Naast het verlagen van de natrium-inname is ook kalium een belangrijke speler bij het reguleren van de bloeddruk. Hoewel een Cochrane review geen effect liet zien van kaliumsuppletie op de bloeddruk. Door een aantal tekortkomingen aan de onderzoeken concludeerden de Cochrane-reviewers dat er nog onduidelijkheid is en meer RCT onderzoek nodig is.
Wel zijn er aanwijzingen dat een verhoging van de kalium-inname uit de voeding het risico op hardere eindpunten zoals een hersenbloeding en coronaire hartziekten verkleint.
CONCLUSIONS:
These results indicate there is a moderate correlation between BP responses to low-sodium and to high-sodium interventions, and BP responses to high-sodium intervention and potassium supplementation. Furthermore, our study suggests that individuals who were more sensitive to high-sodium diet might benefit more from a low-sodium and/or high-potassium intervention aimed at lowering BP levels.
Zhao Q, Gu D, Chen J, Bazzano LA, Rao DC, Hixson JE, Jaquish CE, Cao J, Chen J, Li J, Rice T, He J. Correlation between blood pressure responses to dietary sodium and potassium intervention in a Chinese population. Am J Hypertens. 2009 Dec;22(12):1281-6. Epub 2009 Sep 17.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS:
This systematic review found no statistically significant effect of potassium supplementation on blood pressure. Because of the small number of participants in the two high quality trials, the short duration of follow-up, and the unexplained heterogeneity between trials, the evidence about the effect of potassium supplementation on blood pressure is not conclusive. Further high quality RCTs of longer duration are required to clarify whether potassium supplementation can reduce blood pressure and improve health outcomes.
Dickinson HO, Nicolson DJ, Campbell F, Beyer FR, Mason J. Potassium supplementation for the management of primary hypertension in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Jul 19;3:CD004641.
CONCLUSIONS:
Higher dietary potassium intake is associated with lower rates of stroke and might also reduce the risk of CHD and total CVD. These results support recommendations for higher consumption of potassium-rich foods to prevent vascular diseases.
D'Elia L, Barba G, Cappuccio FP, Strazzullo P. Potassium intake, stroke, and cardiovascular disease a meta-analysis of prospective studies. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011 Mar 8;57(10):1210-9.