Meta-Analysis of Potassium Intake and the Risk of Stroke.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational cohort studies
PubMed 27792643 · doi:10.1161/JAHA.116.004210
What was done
Researchers performed a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of observational cohort studies published through August 6, 2016, evaluating the relationship between potassium intake and incidence or mortality of total stroke or stroke subtypes. Across 16 cohort studies, relative risks (RR) comparing highest versus lowest intake categories were pooled, and dose-response curves were plotted with and without adjustment for blood pressure.
What was found
Relative to the lowest intake category, the highest category of potassium intake was associated with a 13% reduced risk of stroke in blood pressure-adjusted analyses (RR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.80–0.94). Risk estimates were even lower when unadjusted for blood pressure. In spline dose-response analysis, the lowest risk occurred at 90 mmol/day (~3500 mg/day) with a pooled RR of 0.78 (95% CI 0.70–0.86) in blood pressure-adjusted models and 0.67 (95% CI 0.57–0.78) in unadjusted models. Subtype analyses showed comparable findings.
Why it matters
This study provides quantitative evidence supporting dietary recommendations of approximately 3500 mg/day of potassium for stroke prevention, demonstrating that the association persists independently of blood pressure adjustment.
Limits
The findings are derived entirely from observational cohort studies rather than randomized trials, preventing causal determination. Total participant sample size, specific dietary measurement methods, and detailed subtype numbers were not reported in the abstract. Residual confounding from overall healthier diet quality or lifestyle factors remains possible.
Cited by
- supports Increasing dietary potassium intake has been shown to reduce the risk of stroke.