Potassium Tied to Lower Stroke Risk

A data analysis from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) recently found an inverse relationship between self-reported dietary potassium intake and stroke in postmenopausal women. The results of the analysis showed that women who consumed the most potassium each day had a 12% lower overall risk of stroke and a 16% lower risk of ischemic stroke when compared with women consuming very little potassium. Additionally, among women without hypertension, those in the highest quartile of reported potassium consumption had a 27 percent lower risk of ischemic stroke than those in the lowest quartile. “Women with hypertension had a lower total mortality risk with higher potassium intake but no lowered risk of stroke, suggesting that higher potassium intake may be of more benefit before hypertension develops,” the researchers noted. “Health care providers, therefore, may wish to reinforce the importance of a potassium-rich diet especially among postmenopausal women.” To read more about this study, click here.