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Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of potassium chloride in the treatment of mild hypertension.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Svetkey, LP; Yarger, WE; Feussner, JR; DeLong, E; Klotman, PE
Published in: Hypertension
May 1987

Epidemiological and experimental data suggest blood pressure-lowering effects of dietary potassium. A randomized, double-blind clinical trial was used to assess blood pressure response to orally administered potassium, 120 mEq/day, and to placebo in 101 adults with mild hypertension. Blood pressure was measured with a random-zero sphygmomanometer every 2 weeks of this 8-week trial. Systolic blood pressure in the potassium-treated group decreased by 6.4 +/- 13.7 (SD) mm Hg (p less than or equal to 0.025) compared with 0.11 +/- 13.0 mm Hg in the placebo-treated group (p = 0.96). Diastolic blood pressure in the potassium-treated group decreased by 4.1 +/- 8.3 mm Hg (p less than or equal to 0.05) compared with a 1.6 +/- 6.5 mm Hg decrease in placebo-treated subjects (p = 0.09). Baseline blood pressure of potassium-treated subjects was unexpectedly higher than that of controls. After correcting for baseline variation, blood pressure still decreased 3.4/1.8 mm Hg more in potassium recipients than in placebo recipients (p = 0.14 and 0.24, respectively). Blood pressure decreased by 19/13 mm Hg in five blacks taking potassium versus a 1/0 mm Hg increase in seven blacks taking placebo. Compliance with the potassium regimen was 91.5% by pill count; only one subject discontinued treatment because of side effects. In conclusion, 120 mEq/day of microencapsulated potassium chloride was well tolerated in adults with mild hypertension. An antihypertensive effect of potassium cannot be ruled out despite the fact that there was no statistically significant difference between potassium-treated and placebo-treated subjects after adjustment for differences in baseline blood pressure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Published In

Hypertension

DOI

ISSN

0194-911X

Publication Date

May 1987

Volume

9

Issue

5

Start / End Page

444 / 450

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Random Allocation
  • Potassium Chloride
  • Placebos
  • Middle Aged
  • Hypertension
  • Humans
  • Heart Rate
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Cardiovascular System & Hematology
  • Adult
 

Citation

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Svetkey, L. P., Yarger, W. E., Feussner, J. R., DeLong, E., & Klotman, P. E. (1987). Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of potassium chloride in the treatment of mild hypertension. Hypertension, 9(5), 444–450. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.hyp.9.5.444
Svetkey, L. P., W. E. Yarger, J. R. Feussner, E. DeLong, and P. E. Klotman. “Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of potassium chloride in the treatment of mild hypertension.Hypertension 9, no. 5 (May 1987): 444–50. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.hyp.9.5.444.
Svetkey LP, Yarger WE, Feussner JR, DeLong E, Klotman PE. Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of potassium chloride in the treatment of mild hypertension. Hypertension. 1987 May;9(5):444–50.
Svetkey, L. P., et al. “Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of potassium chloride in the treatment of mild hypertension.Hypertension, vol. 9, no. 5, May 1987, pp. 444–50. Pubmed, doi:10.1161/01.hyp.9.5.444.
Svetkey LP, Yarger WE, Feussner JR, DeLong E, Klotman PE. Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of potassium chloride in the treatment of mild hypertension. Hypertension. 1987 May;9(5):444–450.

Published In

Hypertension

DOI

ISSN

0194-911X

Publication Date

May 1987

Volume

9

Issue

5

Start / End Page

444 / 450

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Random Allocation
  • Potassium Chloride
  • Placebos
  • Middle Aged
  • Hypertension
  • Humans
  • Heart Rate
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Cardiovascular System & Hematology
  • Adult