Increased potassium intake from fruit and vegetables or supplements does not lower blood pressure or improve vascular function in UK men and women with early hypertension: a randomised controlled trial

Study answer

What this study found

Increasing potassium intake above usual UK levels did not lower ambulatory blood pressure or improve vascular function. Compared with control, the 20 mmol K/d fruit and vegetable arm showed SBP change of 0.8 (23.5, 5.3) and DBP change of 0.8 (21.9, 3.5); the 40 mmol K/d fruit and vegetable arm showed SBP change of 1.7 (2 3.0, 5.3) and DBP change of 1.5 (2 1.5, 4.4); and the 40 mmol K/d potassium citrate arm showed SBP change of 1.8 (2 2.1, 5.8) and DBP change of 1.4 (2 1.6, 4.4). These differences were not statistically significant, and arterial stiffness, endothelial function, urinary and…

Study & population

Randomized controlled crossover trial in 48 free-living adults with early hypertension in London, UK, not taking blood-pressure-lowering medication.

Intervention

Three 6-week active regimens were tested in a cross-over Latin square design after a 3-week run-in on a control diet providing 15 mmol K/d: fruit and vegetables supplying an additional 20 mmol K/d, fruit and vegetables supplying an additional 40 mmol K/d, and slow-release potassium citrate capsules supplying 40 mmol…

Key limitation

Only 48 participants completed the study, limiting power to detect modest effects.

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Original abstract