Oral KCl Supplementation Safely Reduces Body Na + Surplus and Blood Pressure.
Adriana Marton, Hieu T N Tran, Norihiko Morisawa et al.
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In 30 seconds
This single-arm, prospective longitudinal study evaluated personalized oral potassium chloride (KCl) supplementation in 40 participants with hypertension, later classified as essential hypertension (EH) or hyperaldosteronism. After 6 to 9 weeks, 24-hour urinary potassium increased without a change in urinary sodium. Muscle sodium surplus was eliminated in the hyperaldosteronism group, and systolic blood pressure fell in both groups: -8.33 mm Hg in EH and -7.35 mm Hg in hyperaldosteronism. The findings suggest KCl may alter sodium-potassium distribution and lower blood pressure, but the nonrandomized design does not establish comparative efficacy.
Key findings
- Muscle sodium content was higher in hyperaldosteronism than EH at baseline: 24.67±2.93 versus 22.48±3.37 mmol/L tissue volume (P =0.023).
- KCl eliminated muscle sodium surplus in hyperaldosteronism: -1.90 mmol/L tissue volume (95% CI, -3.20 to -0.60; P =0.005).
- Systolic BP decreased by -8.33 mm Hg in EH (95% CI, -14.55 to -2.12) and -7.35 mm Hg in hyperaldosteronism (95% CI, -12.69 to -2.01).
- Twenty-four-hour urinary potassium excretion increased, while 24-hour urinary sodium excretion did not change.
Why it matters
The results support a possible link between potassium supplementation, mobilization of tissue sodium, and lower blood pressure, including in participants with hyperaldosteronism. This may help clarify how potassium-enriched salt could benefit blood pressure beyond simply reducing sodium intake. However, the study provides preliminary evidence rather than proof that supplementation is effective compared with usual care or other interventions.
What to keep in mind
The study was single-arm and nonrandomized, with 40 participants and 6 to 9 weeks of supplementation; it therefore cannot establish comparative efficacy or longer-term outcomes.