Potassium

Supplement Forms/Alternate Names

Chelated potassium, potassium aspartate, potassium bicarbonate., potassium chloride, potassium citrate, potassium gluconate

Introduction

Potassium is an essential mineral found in bananas, fish, and potatoes. It has been used to lower blood pressure. Potassium can be taken as a pill or powder. There are many kinds of potassium supplements. Potassium can also be injected into the bloodstream by a healthcare provider.

Dosages

The adequate intake amount is 4.7 grams per day for people over 14 years of age

What Research Shows

Likely Effective

  • High blood pressure —likely to lower blood pressure when used with standard treatment A1-A5

May Be Effective

  • Urinary stones —may reduce stone formation in children and adults who have had lithotripsy B1,B2

Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.

Safety Notes

It is likely safe to take potassium in small doses. Large doses may not be safe. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid excessive intake of potassium.

Interactions

Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some can interfere with treatment or make conditions worse such as:

  • People taking antibiotics should talk to their doctors before taking potassium. It may interact with the medicine.

References►

A. High Blood Pressure

A1. Cheriyan J, O'Shaughnessy KM, et al. Primary prevention of CVD: treating hypertension. BMJ Clin Evid. 2010 Feb 18;2010. pii: 0214.

A2. van Bommel E, Cleophas T. Potassium treatment for hypertension in patients with high salt intake: a meta-analysis. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2012 Jul;50(7):478-482.

A3. Binia A, Jaeger J, et al. Daily potassium intake and sodium-to-potassium ratio in the reduction of blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Hypertens. 2015;22(8):1509-1520.

A4. Filippini T, Violi F, et al. The effect of potassium supplementation on blood pressure in hypertensive subjects: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Cardiol. 2017 Mar 1;230:127-135.

A5. Poorolajal J, Zeraati F, et al. Oral potassium supplementation for management of essential hypertension: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PLoS One. 2017;12(4):e0174967.

B. Urinary Stones

B1. Carvalho M, Erbano BO, et al. Effect of potassium citrate supplement on stone recurrence before or after lithotripsy: systematic review and meta-analysis. Urolithiasis. 2017 Oct;45(5):449-455.

B2. Kern A, Grimsby G, et al. Medical and dietary interventions for preventing recurrent urinary stones in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Nov 9;11:CD011252.

Last reviewed December 2015 by EBSCO CAM Review Board
Last Updated: 4/17/2020

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