Will taking potassium citrate lower your blood pressure?

High blood pressure or hypertension is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). A new study published in the British Journal of Nutrition suggests that taking a daily supplment of potassium citrate lowered volunteers blood pressure by 5 mmHg.

***Many blood pressure lowering drugs called ace inhibitors cause your body to retain potassium. Consult your physician before taking a potassium supplement as many medical conditions as well as some medications can already elevate your potassium levels.


"Blood pressure (BP) shows a continuous relationship with the risk of CVD. There is substantial evidence that dietary potassium exerts an anti-pressor effect. Most clinical trials have used KCl. However, the chloride ion may have a pressor effect and in foods potassium is associated with organic anions. In a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial we explored the effect on BP of two salts of potassium, KCl and potassium citrate (K-cit), in predominantly young healthy normotensive volunteers. The primary outcome was the change in mean arterial pressure as measured in a clinic setting. After 6 weeks of supplementation, compared with the placebo group (n 31), 30 mmol K-cit/d (n 28) changed mean arterial pressure by - 5.22 mmHg (95 % CI - 8.85, - 4.53) which did not differ significantly from that induced by KCl (n 26), - 4.70 mmHg ( - 6.56, - 2.84). The changes in systolic and diastolic BP were - 6.69 (95 % CI - 8.85, - 4.43) and - 4.26 (95 % CI - 6.31, - 2.21) mmHg with K-cit and - 5.24 (95 % CI - 7.43, - 3.06) and - 4.30 (95 % CI - 6.39, - 2.20) mmHg with KCl, and did not differ significantly between the two treatments. Changes in BP were not related to baseline urinary electrolytes. A greater treatment-related effect was observed in those with higher systolic BP. Increasing dietary potassium could therefore have a significant impact on the progressive rise in BP in the entire population."

Reference:
Braschi A, Naismith DJ. The effect of a dietary supplement of potassium chloride or potassium citrate on blood pressure in predominantly normotensive volunteers. Br J Nutr. 2007 Dec 6;:1-9