Potassium citrate and blood pressure in healthy volunteers
What it found
In a 6-week trial in mostly young, healthy people with normal blood pressure, potassium citrate lowered mean arterial pressure compared with placebo.
The drop was similar to that seen with potassium chloride.
What they found
Studies in people
Mean arterial pressure
After 6 weeks, potassium citrate changed mean arterial pressure by -5.22 mmHg compared with placebo. This did not differ significantly from the -4.70 mmHg change with potassium chloride.
Systolic and diastolic BP
Systolic and diastolic blood pressure fell by -6.69 and -4.26 mmHg with potassium citrate, and by -5.24 and -4.30 mmHg with potassium chloride. The two treatments did not differ significantly.
Baseline urinary electrolytes
Changes in blood pressure were not related to baseline urinary electrolytes.
Higher systolic BP
A greater treatment-related effect was seen in those with higher systolic blood pressure.
What the authors conclude
“Increasing dietary potassium could therefore have a significant impact on the progressive rise in BP in the entire population.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say that increasing dietary potassium could therefore have a significant impact on the progressive rise in blood pressure in the entire population.
How it was done
Blood pressure is continuously linked to heart and circulation risk, and dietary potassium is thought to lower blood pressure. Most trials used potassium chloride, but the chloride part may raise blood pressure, and in foods potassium comes with organic anions.
In a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial, mostly young healthy volunteers with normal blood pressure took 30 mmol of potassium citrate daily, potassium chloride daily, or a placebo for 6 weeks. The main measure was the change in mean arterial pressure measured in a clinic.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This trial was in mostly young, healthy people with normal blood pressure, so the results may not apply to other groups.
- It only lasted 6 weeks, so it cannot show what happens over longer periods.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- King's College London, UK
The paper
- Title
- The effect of a dietary supplement of potassium chloride or potassium citrate on blood pressure in predominantly normotensive volunteers
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Braschi A, Naismith DJ (2008). The effect of a dietary supplement of potassium chloride or potassium citrate on blood pressure in predominantly normotensive volunteers. The British journal of nutrition. doi:10.1017/S0007114507864853PubMed 18053306DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error