Taking potassium supplements (like KCl) doesn't lower blood pressure, which shows that the blood pressure-lowering effect of nitrate supplements comes from the nitrate part, not the potassium.
Scientific Claim
Potassium chloride (KCl) supplementation at 24 mmol does not significantly affect blood pressure or heart rate in healthy adults, indicating that the blood pressure-lowering effects of potassium nitrate are specifically due to nitrate rather than potassium content.
Original Statement
“In all of the measures of bioactivity, no significant changes were observed in the control limb using KCl capsules to match the 24-mmol KNO3 dose. The significance of this finding is 2-fold. First, this suggests that the effects on BP were attributable specifically to the activity of nitrate. Secondly, the lack of any BP effect of KCl also supports the view that, whilst potassium (dietary or supplementation), known to exert a number of beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, particularly decreases in BP, it is not responsible for the effects of KNO3 supplementation and is unlikely to underlie the effects of beetroot juice.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
definitive
Can make definitive causal claims
Assessment Explanation
This is a controlled study with KCl as an active control for potassium content, showing no significant effects on blood pressure or heart rate. The language 'does not significantly affect' appropriately describes the observed effect.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Inorganic Nitrate Supplementation Lowers Blood Pressure in Humans: Role for Nitrite-Derived NO