Abstract P091: Short-term Increased Dietary Potassium From Potato and Potassium Gluconate Has No Effect on Blood Pressure and Microcirculation in Pre-hypertensive-to-hypertensive Adults

Potassium is an essential nutrient of concern according to recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans Advisory Committees, with less than 3% of the population meeting the current adequate intake (AI) level of 4700mg/d. Increases in potassium intake have been linked to improvements in cardiovascular and other metabolic health outcomes. Blood pressure (BP) is currently the primary criterion for determining potassium requirements. In this clinical trial, we assessed the effects of increasing potassium intake on BP and microcirculation (endothelial function). Thirty pre-hypertensive-to-hypertensive (Systolic BP ≥ 120mmHg) men (N=15) and Women (N=15) with a mean ± SD age, BMI, and BP (systolic(SBP)/ diastolic(DBP)) of 48.2 ± 15 y, 31.4 ± 6.1, and 136.3 ± 11.9/ 86.1 ± 7.1 mmHg, respectively, were enrolled in a cross-over randomized control diet trial. Participants were assigned to a random order of four 16-day dietary potassium interventions including a basal diet (control) of 2300mg/d(~60mmol/d), and three periods of an additional 1000mg/d(3300mg/d(~85mmol/d) total) of potassium in the form of potatoes (baked, boiled, or pan-heated with no additional fat), French fries, or a potassium gluconate supplement. Each intervention period was separated by two or more weeks of wash out. Blood pressure was measured in triplicate using manual auscultation on days 1, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 16, and 17 of each intervention. Microvascular and endothelial function were assessed via thermal hyperemia, utilizing laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), at baseline and at the end of each intervention. Results for differences in both SBP and DBP ± SE were assessed at the end treatment (average of day 15, 16, and 17 measurements) using a mixed model with repeated measures and Dunnett adjustment (P < 0.05), with no significant differences among groups (control: 128.7 ± 2.1/ 83.6 ± 1.6, French fries: 127.7 ± 2.2/ 83.7 ± 1.6, potatoes: 127.6 ± 2.3/ 85.1 ± 1.6, supplement: 128.0 ± 2.2/ 83.7 ± 1.7). Utilizing the same statistical analysis, there were also no significant differences in endothelial function (measured as percent of cutaneous vascular conductance max (%CVCmax) ± SE) among groups (control: 87.4 ± 1.5%, French Fries: 87.7 ± 1.4%, potatoes: 88.3 ± 1.1%, supplement: 88.9 ± 1.0%). In this small, controlled feeding study of short duration, increased potassium from potatoes or supplement achieved 70% of recommended intakes, but had no significant benefit to blood pressure or microvascular function in men and women with higher cardiometabolic risk.