It’s also important for moving nutrients into cells and removing waste from them.
However, getting too much potassium can also cause side effects, some common and some severe.
Researchers fed participants a controlled diet for three weeks.
Verywell / Getty Images
In addition, a 2016 review evaluated whether increased potassium intake could affect the risk of stroke.
Researchers looked at 16 cohort studies.
Therefore, some studies have examined whether potassium couldreduce kidney stone risk.
In a 2016 study,researchers examined the relationship between protein and potassium intake in kidney stone formation.
Some research has focused on whether potassium can affectdiabetes.
Similarly, a 2016 clinical trial evaluated potassium levels with glucose and diabetes risk over eight years.
In addition, researchers found an inverse association between serum and dietary potassium and diabetes risk.
A 2024 study found that a potassium-rich vegetarian diet can help to reduce joint pain and improve RA symptoms.
However, the researchers noted that further studies are needed to confirm the benefits.
Protects Against Lung Cancer
Researchers have found evidence that potassium may provide some protection against lung cancer.
However, once the amount of potassium became excessive, it’s protective effect was weaker.
Supports Fertility
Getting the right amount of potassium can also affect your fertility.
For males, there’s a correlation between the potassium content and sperm quality and motility.
Males with infertility have been shown to have lower potassium levels than those who are fertile.
The health benefits of potassium include blood pressure regulation, blood glucose management, and bone health.
you could usually get enough of it from your diet, and potassium deficiency is rare.
As a result, some supplement products may not contain the ingredients listed on the label.
Types of Potassium Supplements
Potassium supplements come in capsules, tablets, liquid, and powder.
Also, if you are vegan or have allergies, read labels carefully for vegan or allergen-free products.
Age, sex, and pregnancy status determine how much potassium you should have per day.
A complete list of medication interactions is included below.
Some medications can interact with potassium supplements.
These include:
These medications can impact potassium in dangerous ways.
Therefore, experts recommend monitoring potassium levels in people who take these drugs.
That’s because foods meet other nutritional needs and are usually absorbed better by the body.
And don’t overlook dried fruit.
One cup of dried apricots, for example, contains about 1,500 milligrams of potassium.
To preserve the potassium in your cooked food, have a go at avoid using very high heat.
Be mindful of the labels if you gotta monitor your potassium intake.
Most ingredient labels will list “potassium chloride” as an additive.
Symptoms of Potassium Deficiency
You may not even know if you have a mild potassium deficiency.
However, more severe deficiency can result inhypokalemia.
Fortunately, severe cases rarely occur because of inadequate potassium intake alone.
However, if you notice any of these symptoms, it’s best to have them evaluated.
People with kidney disease are at risk of potassium toxicity because their kidneys may not filter out potassium adequately.
Therefore, they should not take potassium supplements unless directed by a healthcare provider.
Talk to a healthcare provider before taking any supplement, including potassium.
National Institutes of Health (NIH): Office of Dietary Supplements.Potassium.
Champagne CM.Dietary interventions on blood pressure: the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) trials.Nutr Rev.
2006;64(2 Pt 2):S53-S56.
2016;5(10):e004210.
2016:11(10);1834-1844. doi:10.2215/CJN.01520216.
2016;11(6):e0157252.
2024;7(1):14-25.
2022;11(7):1006.
Published 2022 Jul 3. doi:10.3390/biology11071006
National Institutes of Health.
Office of Dietary Supplements.Potassium: Fact sheet for health professionals.
2018; 10(9):1293. doi:10.3390/nu10091293.
2015;(10):CD010057.
doi:10.1002/14651858.CD010057.pub2
National Library of Medicine.Potassium.
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Dietary Guidelines for Americans.Food sources of potassium.
