Oral Potassium Supplementation Lowers Clinic Blood Pressure in Untreated Primary Hypertension-Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials.

What was studied

This review pooled trials of potassium pills. Potassium may lower BP, but this was unclear in untreated primary hypertension. The control was placebo, sodium chloride or no treatment. The search ran through January 31, 2025. It was updated in October 2025. The trials had 803 participants. 14 were crossover trials. 5 were parallel. The median length was 4 weeks.

What they found

Clinic systolic BP fell by 5.3 mm Hg with potassium. Diastolic BP fell by 4.5 mm Hg. Drops in 24-hour BP were smaller. They were 2.8 mm Hg systolic. They were 3.2 mm Hg diastolic. Side effects were more frequent with potassium. Few people dropped out of the trials. Data varied a lot across trials.

What it means for patients

The authors say potassium modestly lowers clinic BP in untreated primary hypertension. They say it may lower 24-hour BP by less. They say mixed data, short follow-up and thin safety data call for cautious reading.

Why it is not certain yet

Data varied a lot across trials. Evidence on 24-hour BP was thin. Follow-up was short. Safety data were thin.

Source

Oral Potassium Supplementation Lowers Clinic Blood Pressure in Untreated Primary Hypertension-Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials.

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