National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Potassium is the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
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National Institutes of Health
Potassium
Potassium is a mineral that the body needs to work normally. It helps nerves and muscles communicate. It also helps move nutrients into cells and waste products out of cells. A diet rich in potassium helps to offset some of sodium's harmful effects on blood pressure.
Most people get all the potassium they need from what they eat and drink. Sources of potassium in the diet include
- Leafy greens, such as spinach and collards
- Fruit from vines, such as grapes and blackberries
- Root vegetables, such as carrots and potatoes
- Citrus fruits, such as oranges and grapefruit
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Start Here
- Potassium(Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics)
- Sodium and Potassium(Dept. of Health and Human Services) - PDF
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Overviews
- Potassium(Merck & Co., Inc.)
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Potassium Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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Nutrition
- Heart Healthy Diet - Salt and Potassium(Cardiovascular Research Foundation)
- Potassium Content of Selected Foods per Common Measure(Dept. of Agriculture) - PDF
- Potassium Supplements(American Cancer Society)
- Shifting the Balance of Sodium and Potassium in Your Diet(Harvard School of Public Health)
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Specific Conditions
- Hyperkalemia (High Potassium)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Low Potassium (Hypokalemia)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Related Issues
- CDC Vital Signs: Where's the Sodium?(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Diuretics: A Cause of Low Potassium?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Low Potassium Diet (Beyond the Basics)(UpToDate)
- Potassium and High Blood Pressure(American Heart Association)
- Potassium and Your CKD Diet(National Kidney Foundation)
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Hypokalemia(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Potassium(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Hypokalemia
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Research
- High Sodium, Low Potassium Diet Linked to Increased Risk of Death(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Directories
- Find a Registered Dietitian(Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics)
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Organizations
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Patient Handouts
- Hypokalemia
- Also available in Spanish
- Hypokalemic periodic paralysis
- Also available in Spanish
- Potassium in diet
- Also available in Spanish
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