Postprandial effects of a high potassium meal in patients with hypertension

Background: There is compelling evidence of an inverse association between potassium intake and blood pressure (BP). A potential mechanism for this effect may be dietary potassium mediated augmentation of endothelium dependent relaxation. To date, studies have investigated potassium intake supplemen...

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Published in:Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism nutrition, and metabolism, 2018-01, Vol.43 (4), p.S25
Main Authors: Malta, Daniela, Esfandiari, Sam, Goldraich, Livia A, Allard, Johane P, Newton, Gary E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Blood pressure
Clinical trials
Dietary supplements
Hypertension
Potassium
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Summary:Background: There is compelling evidence of an inverse association between potassium intake and blood pressure (BP). A potential mechanism for this effect may be dietary potassium mediated augmentation of endothelium dependent relaxation. To date, studies have investigated potassium intake supplementation over several weeks in healthy volunteers with variable results on vascular function. There is no assessment of the acute vascular effects of potassium supplementation achieved by ingestion of potassium rich food in a hypertensive population. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a high potassium meal on postprandial endothelial function as measured by flow mediated dilatation (FMD). Design: We performed an investigator blinded randomized crossover trial in 33 hypertensive individuals. Participants consumed both a high ( 2400 mg) and low ( 543 mg) K+ meal, separated by a one week washout period. The primary endpoint was endothelial function as assessed by FMD. Results: In the fasting state (Baseline), and at 60 minute postprandial, radial artery FMD was not significantly different between high and low K+ meals (baseline: high K+ 4.2 ± 2% versus Low K+ 2.6 ± 3%, P= 0.93; 60 min: high K+ 3.8 ± 4% versus Low K+ 4.1 ± 3%, P= 0.69). There was however a non-significant trend at the 120 time-point (120 min: high K+ 5.2 ± 4.1% versus Low K+ 3.9 ± 4.1%, P= 0.07). There were no differences between meals in radial artery diameter and blood flow. Conclusions: This study does not support the hypothesis that a single high K+ meal improves vascular function in individuals with treated hypertension. This does not negate the clinical evidence relating K+ intake to lowering BP, but suggests that the mechanisms of beneficial effects are complex and not simply due to single nutrient mediated improvement in vascular function.
ISSN:1715-5312