Nutrition Science and Everyday Application - beta v 0.1

VITAMINS AND MINERALS INVOLVED IN FLUID AND ELECTROLYTE BALANCE 469
Figure 8.11. Dietary sources of potassium. Source: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2015-2020
The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans identifies potassium as a “dietary
component of public health concern,” because dietary surveys consistently show that people
in the United States consume less potassium than is recommended. 6 This is a nutritional
gap that must be corrected through food since most dietary supplements do not contain
significant amounts of potassium.
Potassium Deficiency and Toxicity
Low potassium intake may have negative health implications on blood pressure, kidney
stone formation, bone mineral density, and type 2 diabetes risk. Although there is a large
body of evidence that has found a low potassium intake increases the risk of hypertension,
especially when combined with high sodium intake, and higher potassium intake may help
decrease blood pressure, especially in salt-sensitive individuals, the body of evidence to
support a cause-and-effect relationship is limited and inconclusive. 7 However, it is important
to remember that a lack of evidence does not mean there is a lack of effect of potassium
intake on chronic disease outcomes. This is an area that needs more research to determine
the effect dietary potassium has on chronic disease risk.
There is no UL set for potassium since healthy people with normal kidney function can
excrete excess potassium in the urine, and therefore high dietary intakes of potassium do
not pose a health risk. 7 However, the absence of a UL does not mean that there is no risk
from excessive supplemental potassium intake, and caution is warranted against taking high
levels of supplemental potassium. 8