Studies

Explore research connecting ingredients and health goals.

587 ingredient–goal connections

GoalReported findings
SupportiveMixedNo effectAdverseUnclassified

Heart HealthandPotassium

182published studies

Supportive

The strongest direct evidence for potassium and heart health concerns blood pressure. Pooled supplementation trials show a modest reduction, with benefits often greater in people with hypertension, lower potassium intake or higher sodium intake. Some trials find no added benefit, especially when sodium intake is already reduced, so the response is not uniform.

Higher dietary potassium is associated with lower stroke risk in observational research, although associations with cardiovascular outcomes are not consistent. Potassium-enriched salt substitutes have reduced strokes, major cardiovascular events and deaths in older or previously affected high-risk adults. Because these substitutes also lower sodium, the event benefit cannot be attributed to potassium alone.

Dietary intake and blood potassium are different measures. In heart failure, both low and high blood levels have often been associated with worse outcomes, and reduced kidney function or certain medicines increase the likelihood of excess blood potassium. These findings do not prove that supplements caused the adverse outcomes, but they limit any blanket claim that more potassium improves heart health.

182 linked studies · 33 sampled for detail · Sep 27, 2026

Study types

  • Narrative review50
  • Cohort study45
  • Randomized trial31
  • Cross-sectional study24
  • Meta-analysis11
  • Systematic review5
  • Case-control study3
  • Guideline / consensus3
  • Other2
  • Scoping review2
  • Clinical trial1
  • Editorial / commentary1
  • Non-randomized trial1
  • Observational study1
  • Protocol1
  • Single-arm trial1

Published by year

  • 50Earlier
  • 02010
  • 62011
  • 22012
  • 42013
  • 102014
  • 62015
  • 42016
  • 152017
  • 42018
  • 92019
  • 32020
  • 142021
  • 52022
  • 102023
  • 112024
  • 122025
  • 172026

Findings over time

Numbers above bars show study counts. Earlier groups years before 2010.

202617 studies

  • Supportive9
  • Mixed4
  • No effect1
  • Adverse3
  • Unclassified0

Population over time

Reported participants by publication year. Select a year to see the total and reporting coverage.

— Participant count not reported. Earlier groups years before 2010.

2026112,346 reported participants

Counts reported by 11 of 17 studies. 6 without a reported count.

Totals sum reported counts across studies and reviews; participants may overlap between sources.

Explore this goal

Showing 5 top-ranked studies for Potassium and Heart Health.

Top studies

Potassium · Heart HealthHighest ranked first
  1. Potassium intake, stroke, and cardiovascular disease a meta-analysis of prospective studies.
    2011Meta-analysis247,510 participants11 studies reviewed

    Journal of the American College of Cardiology

    Finding In pooled prospective data, 1.64 g/day higher potassium intake was associated with 21% lower stroke risk; CHD and total-CVD associations became significant only after excluding one cohort in sensitivity analysis, so the findings are observational and sensitivity-dependent.

    SupportiveView source for Potassium intake, stroke, and cardiovascular disease a meta-analysis of prospective studies. (opens in a new tab)
  2. Oral potassium supplementation for management of essential hypertension: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
    2017Meta-analysis1,213 participants23 studies reviewed

    PloS one

    Finding Compared with placebo, potassium supplementation modestly but significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

    SupportiveView source for Oral potassium supplementation for management of essential hypertension: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. (opens in a new tab)
  3. Joint association of urinary sodium and potassium excretion with cardiovascular events and mortality: prospective cohort study.
    2019Cohort study103,570 participants

    BMJ (Clinical research ed.)

    SupportiveView source for Joint association of urinary sodium and potassium excretion with cardiovascular events and mortality: prospective cohort study. (opens in a new tab)
  4. Effect of Potassium Supplementation on Endothelial Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Intervention Studies.
    2023Meta-analysis332 participants5 studies reviewed

    Nutrients

    Finding Pooled potassium supplementation was associated with a 0.74% increase in flow-mediated dilation, with a larger effect at urinary potassium excretion above 90 mmol/day.

    SupportiveView source for Effect of Potassium Supplementation on Endothelial Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Intervention Studies. (opens in a new tab)
  5. Effects of potassium supplementation on office, home, and 24-h blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension.
    1999Randomized trial55 participants

    American journal of hypertension

    Finding Potassium significantly lowered BP across office, home and ambulatory measurements, with small differences.

    SupportiveView source for Effects of potassium supplementation on office, home, and 24-h blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension. (opens in a new tab)

Counts reflect published studies in our database, not the strength of a benefit. A study may appear in more than one connection.