When mice eat a lot of salt, adding a moderate amount of potassium lowers their blood pressure by about 3.6 mmHg compared to eating the same high salt without extra potassium.

Scientific Claim

High dietary sodium intake (1.57% Na+) in male mice suppresses aldosterone secretion, and moderate potassium intake (2%) is associated with a reduction of approximately 3.6 mmHg in systolic blood pressure compared to high sodium alone.

Original Statement

“Mice were then switched to an HS2K diet for 5 days, after which BP was recorded again (days 5–6). Unlike on the NS diet, increasing dietary K+ on the background of high NaCl (HS2K) did not significantly raise BP, but instead mean 24 h and dark active phase SBP were reduced in HS2K-fed mice relative to HS0.75K (ΔSBP = −3.60 ± 0.53 mmHg and ΔSBP = −4.13 ± 0.49 mmHg, respectively)”

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 demonstrates association between potassium intake and BP reduction under high salt conditions. The claim uses 'associated with' which correctly reflects the evidence.

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

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.

85%

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.

85%

In mice, more potassium leads to more aldosterone in a straight-line way, but blood pressure rises sharply only when aldosterone hits a certain level (around 4040 pg/24h), then levels off.

83%

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.

74%

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.

72%