POTASSIUM

The Importance of the Sodium-Potassium Balance

in the Body

The role of
potassium in our
bodies includes:
Helps regulate heart function
Reduces blood pressure

THE SCIENCE OF POTASSIUM WITH SODIUM IN THE BODY

Required for normal fluid balance

Potassium and sodium are essential dietary minerals and electrolytes, meaning
that they become ions (charged particles) in our bodies, making them capable of
conducting electrical charges.

Fundamental for normal nerve and

muscle function

Potassium is a positively charged ion, which is pumped into our cells from
surrounding extracellular fluid, while its opponent, sodium, is pumped out. The
potassium-sodium exchange is necessary for proper fluid balance and creates an
electrical charge across the cell membrane. This is the fundamental principle which
allows our nerves to conduct electrical impulses
and to communicate between cells and muscles
to contract. Since the heart is a large muscle
that is continually and rhythmically
contracting, potassium is extremely
important for proper heart function. Extracellular fluid with
Na+

Na+

Converts glucose into glycogen

(muscle fuel)
Important role in kidney function
Helps lungs eliminate carbon dioxide
Needed to maintain acid/alkali
balance

Na+

K+

K+

a high concentration
of Na+ and a low
concentration of K+

Intracellular fluid with a high

concentration of K+ and a
low concentration of Na+

The sodium-potassium exchange:

Sodium ions (Na+) are pumped out of the cell
and potassium ions (K+) are pumped into the cell.

Potassium also controls the creation of glycogen used by muscles for fuel from
glucose (blood sugar), and therefore also controls our muscular fuel supply.
POTASSIUM INTAKETHEN AND NOW

Fruit and vegetables are the main source of dietary potassium. As Western diets
have gradually changed over time, especially the last 50 years, to include more
processed foods and fewer fresh fruits and vegetables, our daily intake of potassium
continues to diminish. In fact, processed foods and restaurant foodswhich are
high in sodiumnow account for more than 75 percent of our sodium intake.1
Consequently, our daily sodium-to-potassium ratiothe measure of sodium
versus potassium in our dietscontinues to increase. The average intake of
sodium is nearly 1.5 times the amount of potassium. Whereas, healthy dietary
guidelines suggest double the amount of potassium to sodium in order to
maintain proper health.2

K+

The World Health Organization recommends 3,510mg

of potassium per day.*

Processed Vegetables:
When foods like potatoes
and tomatoes are
processed, their sodium
amount dramatically
increases while their
natural potassium
declines.

POTASSIUM

Usual Intake of Sodium**

3500

3000

5000

Upper Limit

Adequate
Intake

Usual Intake of Potassium**

4500

Adequate
Intake

4000
3500

Potassium, mg

Sodium, mg

2500

2000
1500

3000
2500
2000
1500

1000
1000
500

500
0

2-3

4-8

9-13
Age (years)

14-50

2-3

50+

Current average intake level of sodium

Globally, 1.5 billion people suffer from high blood pressure or hypertension , and millions
more are suspected to be pre-hypertensive.4 It has widely been acknowledged that
excessive sodium consumption leads to raised blood pressure levels and increased risk of
cardiovascular disease, and that sodium reduction leads to healthier levels.5 Studies have
also shown that insufficient potassium intake may lead to greater risk of stroke.6
Modifying our consumption of sodium and potassium has been shown to have positive
effects.
Recent studies have suggested that by simply increasing potassium intake helps
lower blood pressure and that high potassium intake may prevent thickening of
artery walls.7 There is evidence that increased potassium intake and decreased sodium
intake, together with loss of excess weight and regular exercise, are the most effective,
nonpharmacological (nondrug) ways to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.8
A SOLUTION TO THE POTASSIUMSODIUM IMBALANCE

Nu-Tek Food Science has developed a unique potassium chloride productNu-Tek Salt
Advanced Formula Potassium Chloride. It has shown considerable success in reducing
sodium levels in some of the most challenging categories by up to 50 percent.
It is recommended that people who have kidney disease not use potassium salt substitutes.

GLOBAL OFFICES

nu-tekfoodscience.com

AUSTRALASIA OFFICE
P: +61 (0)7 3836 3153
info@nu-tekfoodscience.com.au
EUROPE OFFICE
P: +31 (0)23 567 34 56
info@nu-tekfoodscience.com.eu

9-13
Age (years)

14-50

50+

Current average intake level of potassium

POSITIVE EFFECTS FROM CHANGES TO POTASSIUMSODIUM CONSUMPTION

CORPORATE
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5400 Opportunity Ct.
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Sources:
1 James W, Ralph A & Sanchez-Castillo C (1987) The
dominance of salt in manufactured food in the sodium
intake of auent societies. The Lancet 329, 426-429.
2 High Potassium-to-Sodium Ratio May Reduce Risk of
Cardiovascular Disease. Nutrition Horizon 06 May 2011.
3 World Hypertension League (2012) Healthy Lifestyle
Healthy Blood Pressure
4 From Nu-Teks Health Issues sheet: No source cited.
5 Intersalt Cooperative Research Group (1988) Intersalt:
An International Study of Electrolyte Excretion and
Blood Pressure. Results For 24-Hour Urinary Sodium
and Potassium Excretion. BMJ: British Medical Journal
297, 319-328.
6 Susanna C. Larson, PhD; Nicola Orsini, PhD; Alicja Wolk,
DrMSc (2011) Dietary Potassium Intake and Risk of Stroke.
The American Heart Associations Journal Stroke October
2011, 2746-2750.
7 Cappuccio F & MacGregor G (1991) Does potassium
supplementation lower blood pressure? A meta-analysis
of published trials. Journal of hypertension 9, 465.
8 Cook N, Obarzanek E, Cutler J, Buring J, Rexrode K,
Kumanyika S, Appel L & Whelton P (2009) Joint eects
of sodium and potassium intake on subsequent
cardiovascular disease: the Trials of Hypertension
Prevention Follow-up Study. Archives of Internal
Medicine 169, 32.
* Source: World Health Organization. WHO issues new
guidance on dietary salt and potassium [press release].
January 31, 2013.
** The adequate intake and upper limit for sodium and
potassium by age, as established by the Institute of
Medicine.