The blood pressure lowering benefits of increasing dietary potassium (K⁺) are well known. As such dietary recommendations for hypertension focus on a diet rich in high K⁺ food sources such as fruits and vegetables. An important theme to be addressed is the safety of achieving high dietary K⁺ intake in hypertensive individuals who are also receiving medical therapy that might predispose to elevated serum K⁺ levels (hyperkalemia).~The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of aggressively increasing dietary K⁺ on serum K⁺ concentrations in hypertensive individuals with intact renal function medicated with RAAS blocking drugs. The investigators hypothesized that dietary K⁺ supplementation would not provoke hyperkalemia despite treatment with either an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACEi) or an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB).~The investigators conducted an open controlled clinical trial in 20 hypertensive subjects with normal renal function who were randomized to a usual diet group (UD n=10), or a high potassium diet group (HKD, n= 10). Fruits and vegetables were used to increase potassium intake. All participants were on an ACEi or and ARB. Serum potassium concentration, 3- day food records and 24 Hour urine collections were completed at baseline and at the end of the 4-week study.
This study evaluates the safety of increasing dietary potassium intake in a hypertensive population that may be at risk for hyperkalemia.