The objective of this study was to assess the relation between the level of habitual
potassium intake and the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Prospective cohort studies have evaluated the relationship between habitual potassium
intake and incidence of vascular disease, but their results have not been not entirely
consistent.
We performed a systematic search for prospective studies published, without language
restrictions (1966 to December 2009). Criteria for inclusion were prospective adult
population study, assessment of baseline potassium intake, assessment of vascular
events as outcome, and follow-up of at least 4 years. For each study, relative risks
(RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted and pooled using a random-effect
model, weighted for the inverse of the variance. Heterogeneity, publication bias,
subgroup, and meta-regression analyses were performed.
Eleven studies were identified, providing 15 cohort samples that included 247,510
male and female participants (follow-up 5 to 19 years), 7,066 strokes, 3,058 coronary
heart disease (CHD) events, and 2,497 total CVD events. Potassium intake was assessed
by 24-h dietary recall (n = 2), food frequency questionnaire (n = 6), or 24-h urinary
excretion (n = 3). In the pooled analysis, a 1.64-g (42 mmol) per day higher potassium
intake was associated with a 21% lower risk of stroke (RR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.68 to 0.90;
p = 0.0007), with a trend toward lower risk of CHD and total CVD that attained statistical
significance after the exclusion of a single cohort, based on sensitivity analysis
(RR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.87 to 0.99; p = 0.03 and RR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.60 to 0.91; p =
0.0037).
Higher dietary potassium intake is associated with lower rates of stroke and might
also reduce the risk of CHD and total CVD. These results support recommendations for
higher consumption of potassium-rich foods to prevent vascular diseases.
Copyright © 2011 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier
Inc. All rights reserved.