Table 1.
Studies that reported potassium intake and numerical blood pressure data in normotensive subjects
| Racial Group | n | Sex | Mean Age | Baseline Weight, kg | NaCl/K+ Intake, (mmol/day)/(mmol/day) Low-NaCl Phase | NaCl/K+ Intake, (mmol/day)/(mmol/day) High-NaCl Phase | K+ intake in High-NaCl Phase | Full Diet Control | Change in MAP, mmHg | % Salt Sensitive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B (29) | 24 | M | 39 | 79.1 | 15/30, 14 days | 250/30, 7 days | 30 mmol/day | Y | 6.6* | 79* |
| W | 14 | M | 38 | 74.3 | 15/30, 14 days | 250/30, 7 days | 30 mmol/day | Y | 2.0 | 36 |
| B (31) | 9 | M | 38 | 77.3 | 15/30, 14 days | 250/30, 7 days | 30 mmol/day | Y | 5.0* | ? |
| W | 6 | M | 42 | 73.9 | 15/30, 14 days | 250/30, 7 days | 30 mmol/day | Y | 1.0 | ? |
| AA (34) | 115 | 78F/37M | 49? | 85.6? | 50/44, 30 days | 150/44, 30 days | 44 mmol/day | Y | 5.7* | ? |
| Non-AA | 89 | 33F/56M | 49? | 85.6? | 50/44, 30 days | 150/44, 30 days | 44 mmol/day | Y | 3.2 | ? |
| B (31) | 9 | M | 38 | 77.3 | 15/30, 14 days | 250/70, 7–21 days | 70 mmol/day | Y | 4.0* | ? |
| W | 6 | M | 42 | 73.9 | 15/30, 14 days | 250/70, 7–21 days | 70 mmol/day | Y | 1.0 | ? |
| B (29) | 12 | M | ? | ? | 15/30, 14 days | 250/70, 7 days | 70 mmol/day | Y | 5.0** | 68** |
| W | 14 | M | 38 | ? | 15/30, 14 days | 250/70, 7 days | 70 mmol/day | Y | 0.5 | 20 |
| B (26) | 7 | M | 32? | ? | 10/80, 7 days | 300/80, 3 days | 80 mmol/day | Y | 3.4* | 43 |
| W | 7 | M | 32? | ? | 10/80, 7 days | 300/80, 3 days | 80 mmol/day | Y | −0.1 | 0 |
| B (22) | 23 | M | 32 | ? | 10/100, 5 days | 200/100, 4 days | 100 mmol/day | Y | −3.2 | ? |
| W | 19 | M | 32 | ? | 10/100, 5 days | 200/100, 4 days | 100 mmol/day | Y | −3.2 | ? |
| B (29) | 10 | M | ? | ? | 15/30, 14 days | 250/120, 7 days | 120 mmol/day | Y | 0.0 | 20 |
| W | 14 | M | 38 | ? | 15/30, 14 days | 250/70, 7 days | 70 mmol/day | Y | 0.5 | 20 |
| AA (34) | 119 | 86F/33M | 47? | 82.8 ? | 50/120, 30 days | 150/120, 30 days | 120 mmol/day | Y | 2.5 | ? |
| Non-AA | 89 | 37F/52M | 47? | 82.8 ? | 50/120, 30 days | 150/120, 30 days | 120 mmol/day | Y | 1.6 | ? |
Numbers in parentheses correspond to the citations of the study publications. AA, African American; B, black; BP, blood pressure; F, female; M, male; MAP, average change in mean arterial pressure obtained by subtracting the blood pressure in the low-salt diet phase from the blood pressure in the high-salt diet phase; n, sample size; W, white. Question marks indicate data not available or results are for all subjects combined when racial subgroup data were not available. The DASH-Sodium study (34) included a mixture of hypertensive and normotensive subjects and the data were adjusted for baseline systolic BP. The study from Ref. 37 with 101 normotensive female participants is not included in this table because it did not provide information on K+ intake. There were no racial differences in salt sensitivity in the normotensive females.
Significant difference reported for MAP or SBP between black subjects versus white subjects.
Significant difference compared with whites consuming 70 mmol/day potassium and to blacks consuming 120 mmol/day potassium.