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

Following a randomised cross-over trial of the effect of a four-week 6 0 mmol/day potassium supplement versus placebo on blood pressure (BP), eight of the original 18 hypertensive subjects continued with a 48 mm ol daily potassium supplement for four months. For these eight subject s 24-h potassium excretion during placebo, one month of 60 mmol and fo ur 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 +/- 41, 147 +/- 13/83 +/- 12 and 145 +/- 14/81 +/- 9 mmHg respectively, a significant fall in m ean 24-h SEP between four months of potassium supplement and placebo p eriod of 15 +/- 13 mmHg (95% CI: 4, 26 mmHg, p=0.02), although the fal l 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 signi ficant effects on lowering BP in the large proportion of elderly subje cts with hypertension.