Potassium is an essential mineral balanced against sodium; a higher-potassium, lower-sodium diet lowers elevated blood pressure and reduces stroke risk, most clearly in people with high pressure or salty diets. Whole foods, not high-dose supplements, deliver most benefit. The main safety limit is too much blood potassium in people with poor kidney function. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Serum potassium | 4.0–4.5 mmol/L | Detects both deficiency and dangerous excess |
| Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) | >60–90 mL/min/1.73m² | Determines how safely potassium can be increased |
| Blood pressure | <120/80 mmHg | Primary outcome the intervention targets |
| 24-hour urinary potassium | ~60–90+ mmol/day | Reflects actual dietary potassium intake |
| Urinary sodium-to-potassium ratio | <1 (molar) | Captures the balance that drives blood-pressure effects |
| Serum magnesium | 2.0–2.6 mg/dL | Low magnesium makes potassium hard to correct |
Cadence: Baseline, then every 6–12 months for food-based intake; for supplements or interacting medications, recheck at 1–4 weeks, then every 3–6 months.