Potassium

Potassium — dosage, safety & deals FAQ

How much Potassium do you need per day?

There is no RDA; the committee found data insufficient for an EAR, so Adequate Intakes (AIs) were set. AIs: males 19+ 3,400 mg; females 19+ 2,600 mg; pregnancy 2,600-2,900 mg; lactation 2,500-2,800 mg; children 2,000-3,000 mg by age. — per the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements; general information, not medical advice.

Can you take too much Potassium?

No Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) was set. In healthy people with normal kidney function, high dietary potassium intakes do not pose a health risk because the kidneys eliminate excess amounts in the urine, and there is no evidence that high intakes cause hyperkalemia in adults with normal kidney function. Case reports indicate that very large doses of potassium supplements can cause heart abnormalities and death, but the committee found these reports insufficient to set a UL. In people with impaired potassium excretion (e.g., chronic kidney disease or certain medications), even intakes below the AI can cause hyperkalemia. — per the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements; general information, not medical advice.

What are the signs of Potassium deficiency?

Severe deficiency causes hypokalemia (serum below about 3.6 mmol/L). Mild hypokalemia: constipation, fatigue, muscle weakness, and malaise. Moderate to severe (below about 2.5 mmol/L): polyuria, encephalopathy in kidney disease, glucose intolerance, muscular paralysis, poor respiration, and cardiac arrhythmias. — per the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements; general information, not medical advice.

Who is most likely to need more Potassium?

Groups more likely to have poor potassium status: people with inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis); people who use certain medications, including diuretics and laxatives; and people with pica (eating non-nutritive substances such as clay). — per the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements; general information, not medical advice.