Some studies have shown that short-term daily supplementation with a potassium salt (e.g., potassium chloride or potassium citrate) can lower blood pressure in adults without known health conditions[1] and in people with hypertension.[2][3] While early systematic reviews and meta-analyses found that the evidence was mixed and that there was large variability in effects between studies,[4] it now appears that supplementation with a potassium salt can cause a moderate and meaningful effect to lower blood pressure.[5][6] However, the blood-pressure-lowering effect of potassium is likely to be greatest in people with lower potassium intake at baseline, higher sodium intake at baseline, or in people who don’t use a blood-pressure-lowering medication.[6][7]
Observational studies find a correlation between higher levels of daily dietary potassium intake and a reduced risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease.[8][9] [10][11] However, because these studies estimate dietary potassium intake from food recall questionnaires, the direct protective effect of dietary potassium on cerebrovascular or cardiovascular risk cannot currently be proven.
Observational studies also show an association between higher levels of daily dietary potassium intake and better bone health.[12][13] Furthermore, randomized controlled trials show that supplementation with potassium improves aspects of bone metabolism in postmenopausal women with osteopenia[14][15] and in older adults with osteoporosis.[16][17] However, it is currently unclear whether supplementation with potassium prevents bone loss in such people.
Potassium-containing drugs — e.g., potassium chloride, potassium gluconate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium acetate, etc. — are used to treat low blood potassium (hypokalemia). Other potassium-containing drugs are also used clinically. For example, potassium citrate is used to treat some kidney defects, and potassium phosphate is used in the treatment and prevention of low blood phosphorus (hypophosphatemia).