Potassium Intake May be Linked to Stroke Risk

by | Sep 16, 2011 | 2011, Minerals, Potassium, Stroke

Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. Ten studies of 268,276 patients and 8,695 strokes found that stroke risk significantly decreased 11% for every 1000 mg per day of increased potassium intake. Also 5 of the 10 studies found that for every 1000 mg per day of increased potassium intake there was an 11% decrease in ischemic stroke.

According to the Institute of Medicine, potassium levels in the blood should be no lower than 3.5  millimoles/Liter.  Low levels can lead to problems that include heartbeat irregularities and muscle weakness (1). Potassium has been found to benefit blood vessel health (4), leading the Institute of Medicine to recommend an intake of “at least 4.7 grams per day to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of kidney stones and bone loss” (5).

Now a new study (6) expands on the blood vessel health-promoting effects of potassium on stroke risk. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in Americans, with 795,000 strokes expected to occur in 2010, causing about 137,000 deaths. Strokes cost our healthcare system an estimated $73.7 billion in 2010. While 55,000 more women than men have a stroke each year, African Americans have almost twice the risk of first-ever stroke, compared with whites (7).

Researchers reviewed 10 studies of 268,276 patients within which 8,695 strokes occurred and found a statistically significant benefit of potassium intake on stroke risk. Specifically, for every 1000-mg per day increase in potassium intake, the risk of stroke decreased by 11% (p < 0.03). Five of the 10 studies also looked at specific types of stroke and found an 11% decrease in ischemic stroke for every 1000-mg/day increase.

Regarding specific potassium intakes:

– 4300 mg/day vs.2400 mg/day produced a 31% decreased stroke risk in men 43-75 (8)
– 3550 vs. 2017 mg/day elicited a 13% reduced risk in women 34-59 (9)
– 3030 vs. 1050 mg/day elicited a 24% reduced risk in both men and women 25-74 (101)
– 4510 vs.2610 mg/day elicited a 43% decreased stroke risk in both men and women over the age of 65 (11).

Possible mechanisms for potassium’s benefits on stroke risk may include, protecting cells from damaging free radicals (12) and helping maintain healthy blood vessel function (13). These results led the researchers to conclude that “Dietary potassium intake is inversely associated with risk of stroke, in particular ischemic stroke.”

Source: Zhang, Chi, et al. “Alcohol intake and risk of stroke: a dose–response meta-analysis of prospective studies.” International journal of cardiology 174.3 (2014): 669-677.

© 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Posted Sepember 15th, 2011.

References:

    1. “Potassium” – posted on The National Academies Press website.
    2. McNally MA. Empiric Use of Potassium Citrate Reduces Kidney-Stone Incidence With the Ketogenic Diet. Pediatrics, published online July 13, 2009 (doi: 10.1542/peds.2009-0217).
    3. Chatterjee JR. Serum and Dietary Potassium and Risk of Incident Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Arch Int Med 2010; 170(19):1745-1751.
    4. Feng J.  Effects of Potassium Chloride and Potassium Bicarbonate on Endothelial Function, Cardiovascular Risk Factors, and Bone Turnover in Mild Hypertensives.  Hypertension 2010.  Printed online January 18, 2010. DOI: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.109.147488.
    5. “Potassium” – posted on Institute of Medicine website.
    6. Office of Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet Listings- posted on ODS website.
    7. Larsson SC.  Dietary Potassium Intake and Risk of Stroke A Dose–Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies Stroke. 2011;42:00-00.
    8. American Heart Association Update. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2007 Update. Circulation. 2007;115:e69- e171.
    9. Ascherio A, Rimm EB, Hernan MA, Giovannucci EL, Kawachi I, Stampfer MJ, et al. Intake of potassium, magnesium, calcium, and fiber and risk of stroke among US men. Circulation. 1998;98:1198 –1204.
    10. Iso H, Stampfer MJ, Manson JE, Rexrode K, Hennekens CH, Colditz GA, et al. Prospective study of calcium, potassium, and magnesium intake and risk of stroke in women. Stroke. 1999;30:1772–1779.
    11. Bazzano LA, He J, Ogden LG, Loria C, Vupputuri S, Myers L, et al. Dietary potassium intake and risk of stroke in us men and women: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I epidemiologic follow-up study. Stroke. 2001;32:1473–1480.
    12. Green DM, Ropper AH, Kronmal RA, Psaty BM, Burke GL. Serum potassium level and dietary potassium.
    13. Kido M, Ando K, Onozato ML, Tojo A, Yoshikawa M, Ogita T, Fujita T. Protective effect of dietary potassium against vascular injury in saltsensitive hypertension. Hypertension. 2008;51:225–231.
    14. Ishimitsu T, Tobian L. High potassium diets reduce endothelial permeability in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 1996;23:241–245.