Review: Potassium Supplements

Potassium helps to maintain normal blood pressure through the balance of electrolytes in the body, including the proper function of cardiac muscle, the nervous system, skeletal system and metabolism.

Treating high blood pressure with diuretic medication (water-pills) can create a potassium deficiency, as does diarrhea or excessive vomiting.  Potassium deficiency leads to irregular heartbeat, muscle weakness, lack of energy and irritable behavior.

Research has shown that healthy levels of potassium can help to reduce high blood pressure.

The independent lab testing potassium supplements checks levels of potassium purity, as well as heavy metal contaminations such as lead.

The ONE product that did not contain the claimed amounts of potassium is:

• Advanced Research™ Potassium Orotate

None of the tested potassium supplements indicated any level of lead was present.

Approved and safe for consumption, the following potassium supplements are recommended:

• Biotech™ Pharmacal, Inc K-99™ Gluconate
• Country Life® Vegetarian Potassium 99 mg Potassium Amino Acid Chelate Complexed with Potassium Citrate 99mg
• Food Science® of Vermont Potassium Aspartate
• Healthy Ideas™ Natural Potassium 99 mg USP
• Nature Made® Potassium Gluconate 550 mg USP
• Nature’s Bounty® Potassium Gluconate 595 mg
• Nature’s Life® Sun Food Energy™ Potassium 99 mg
• Nutricology® Innovative Nutrition Potassium Citrate Hypoallergenic
• Puritan’s Pride® Potassium Citrate 258.6 mg
• Spring Valley® [Wal-Mart] Natural Potassium 99 mg
• Swanson® Health Products Premium Brand Potassium (gluconate) 99 mg
• Vitasmart® [K-Mart] Natural Minerals Potassium 99 mg

Foods especially rich in potassium (containing more than 300 milligrams of potassium per serving) are:

• Acorn or butternut squash
• Potatoes (with skin)
• Spinach
• Bananas
• Orange juice
• Avocados
• Lima beans
• Cantaloupes
• Peaches
• Tomatoes
• Flounder, salmon, and cod

Adults should get a minimum of 1,600 mg to 2,000 mg of potassium a day and children should get at least 1,000 mg per day. For preventing potassium loss, the daily dose for adults is about 200 to 400 mg taken three to four times a day, for a total daily dose ranging from 600 mg to 1,600 mg per day. For treating potassium deficiency, approximately double the dose is used.

Speak to your doctor before taking potassium supplements for high blood pressure, especially if you have kidney related health problems.