In mice eating normal salt, even though extra potassium slows down one salt-handling channel (NCC), it doesn't lower blood pressure because another channel (ENaC) starts pulling in more salt instead.

Scientific Claim

On a normal salt diet, dietary potassium intake above 1.75% does not lower blood pressure despite reducing NCC activity, indicating that ENaC-mediated sodium reabsorption may counteract NCC-related benefits in male mice.

Original Statement

“However, we found that at the 4–5-day timepoint where BP was recorded, none of the dietary intakes had the capacity to reduce BP, and therefore, we did not extend the dietary feeding period further. Instead, dark phase SBP remained relatively stable up to a 1.5% K+ intake, then was significantly increased from the 1.75% K+ intake and above.”

From study:Excess dietary potassium raises blood pressure in male mice by an aldosterone-dependent increase in ENaC

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

The study design supports descriptive claims about physiological outcomes. The language accurately reflects observed data without causal implications.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Excess dietary potassium raises blood pressure in male mice by an aldosterone-dependent increase in ENaC

Cohort Study

Animal

2025 Nov 17

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Excess dietary potassium raises blood pressure in male mice by an aldosterone-dependent increase in ENaC

Score: 13

DOI: 10.1038/s42003-025-08976-y

Similar Assertions

When mice eat a lot of salt, adding a moderate amount of potassium lowers their blood pressure, showing that potassium's main benefit might be fighting high blood pressure caused by salt.

80%

When mice eat a lot of salt, their kidney's salt-handling channels (NCC and ENaC) are already low, and adding more potassium doesn't make ENaC any higher.

79%

Even though high potassium lowers a kidney transporter in mice, this doesn't explain the blood pressure changes, suggesting other mechanisms are at play.

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When mice eat more potassium on normal salt, their kidney's salt-handling channels change: one type (NCC) slows down but another (ENaC) speeds up, especially when aldosterone hits about 2701 pg/24h.

76%

In mice eating normal salt, too much potassium (over 1.75% of their diet) makes their blood pressure go up during active hours, especially at high potassium levels like 5%, because of increased activity of certain kidney channels.

75%