Monday May 26, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study suggests that taking potassium supplements may improve fasting media dilation, but do not lower blood pressure.

The study shows high intake of potassium from fruit and vegetables improved endothelial function in healthy men and women in a matter of weeks.

In the study, 35 healthy men and women at a mean age of 32 years completed a randomized cross over study of 2x 6 day diets with high or low potassium. 

High potassium diet was found to significantly improve flow mediated dilatation, compared with low potassium diet although the high potassium diet did not affect blood pressure, pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1, asymmetric dimethylarginine, and endothelin-.

High potassium diet also significantly reduced E-selectin, compared with the low potassium diet.

The study concluded "Increased dietary potassium from fruit and vegetables improves FMD within 1 week in healthy men and women."

High potassium foods include white beans, dark leafy greens, dry apricots, baked acorn squash, yogurt, fish, avocados, mushroom, and bananas. (David Liu)

Reference

N. Blancha, P.M. Cliftona, K.S. Petersena, S.R. Willoughbyb, J.B. Keogha, Effect Of High Potassium Diet On Endothelial Function, Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, published online 2 May 2014