LONG-TERM POTASSIUM SUPPLEMENTATION LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE IN ELDERLY HYPERTENSIVE SUBJECTS

Following a randomised cross-over trial of the effect of a four-week 60 mmol/day potassium supplement versus placebo on blood pressure (BP), eight of the original 18 hypertensive subjects continued with a 48 mmol daily potassium supplement for four months. For these eight subjects 24-h potassium excretion during placebo, one month of 60 mmol and four months of 48 mmol daily potassium supplementation phases was 56 ± 23, 102 ± 28 and 90 ± 35 mmol/24 hours, respectively, and mean 24-h BP following each phase was 160 ± 16/89 + 11, 147 ± 13/83 ± 12 and 145 ± 14/81 ± 9 mmHg respectively, a significant fall in mean 24-h SBP between four months of potassium supplement and placebo period of 15 ± 13 mmHg (95% CI: 4, 26 mmHg, p=0.02), although the fall in 24-h DBP was not significant (8 ± 11 mmHg, 95% CI: 0, 17 mmHg, p=0.08). Modest increases in dietary potassium intake could have significant effects on lowering BP in the large proportion of elderly subjects with hypertension.