If you don’t get enough potassium in your diet and start taking a supplement that adds about 20.6 mmol per day, your blood pressure might drop a little—roughly 3 points lower—according to studies that looked at multiple trials.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

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The contribution of sodium reduction and potassium increase to the blood pressure lowering observed in the Salt Substitute and Stroke Study

Computational/Algorithm Study

2024 Apr

This study used a special salt with more potassium and found that it lowered blood pressure by about 3.3 points — right in line with what the claim says happens when people get more potassium. So yes, more potassium from salt really does help lower blood pressure.

Contradicting (0)

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No contradicting evidence found

Gold Standard Evidence Needed

According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

The contribution of sodium reduction and potassium increase to the blood pressure lowering observed in the Salt Substitute and Stroke Study

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DOI: 10.1038/s41371-024-00896-4

Similar Assertions

Taking potassium supplements can lower your blood pressure, but only up to a point—around 30 mmol per day. After that, taking more doesn’t help much. The amount used in one study (20.6 mmol) was still in the range where more potassium equals more benefit.

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90%

If you eat more potassium-rich foods and less salty food, your blood pressure might drop by about 3.3 mmHg—and most of that drop probably comes from eating more potassium, not less salt.

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83%

If you eat more potassium every day—like from bananas or potatoes—your blood pressure might drop just a tiny bit, but not enough to matter for your health if you don’t already have high blood pressure.

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82%

Eating the right amount of potassium—between 90 and 120 millimoles a day—seems to lower your blood pressure the most and cut your risk of stroke the most; eating more than that doesn’t help any further.

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82%

If people eat less salt and more potassium-rich salt, the extra potassium might lower their blood pressure more than cutting back on salt alone — and most of that drop seems to come from the potassium.

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82%