High Potassium Intake Blunts the Effects of High Sodium on Blood Pressure

Among 1285 adults providing overnight urine samples, potassium excretion and the sodium to potassium ratio were related to systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) only in individuals consuming more than 6 g/day of salt. According to the Journal of the American Society of Hypertension study, individuals in the highest sodium-to-potassium ratio quartile had 8 mm Hg and 7 mm Hg higher systolic and diastolic BP, respectively, compared with those in the first quartile. Individuals in the fourth quartile of urinary potassium excretion had 6 mm Hg and 4 mm Hg lower systolic and diastolic BP, respectively, than those in the first quartile.