Effect of potassium supplementation on blood pressure in Chinese: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Objective To examine the effect of potassium supplementation on blood press ure (BP) in a Chinese population who consume a habitual high sodium and low potassium diet. Design Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Setting Community sample from Beijing, China. Participants A total of 150 men and women aged 35-64 years with an initial systolic BP 130-159 mmHg and/or diastolic BP 80-94 mmHg, Interventions Participants were randomly assigned to take 60 mmol potassium chloride supplement or placebo for 12 weeks. Main outcome measure(s) BP me asurements were obtained at baseline, and at 6 weeks and 12 weeks during th e trial, using random-zero sphygmomanometers, Results The average baseline urinary excretion of sodium and potassium was 182 mmol/24 h and 36 mmol/24 h, Baseline BP and other measured variables we re similar between the potassium supplementation and placebo groups. In the active compared to the placebo treatment group, the urinary excretion of p otassium was significantly increased by 20.6 mmol/24 h (P < 0.001) during 1 2 weeks of intervention. Compared to placebo, active treatment was associat ed with a significant reduction in systolic BP (-5.00 mmHg, 95% Cl: -2.13 t o -7.88 mmHg, P < 0.001) but not diastolic BP (-0.63 mmHg, 95% CI: -2.49 to 1.23 mmHg, P = 0.51) during 12-week intervention. Conclusion These data indicate that moderate potassium supplementation resu lted in a substantial reduction in systolic BP. Our findings suggest that i ncreased potassium intake may play an important role in the prevention and treatment of hypertension in China. J Hypertens 19:1325-1331 (C) 2001 Lippi ncott Williams & Wilkins.