Potassium and Blood Pressure Link Investigated Further
High Blood Pressure or Hypertension is the leading risk factor for heart disease in Australia, with close to six million people living with the condition.
Professor Michael Stowasser from The University of Queensland Diamantina Insitute, will be leading a trial to further investigate the connection between high blood pressure and dietary potassium. The trial will be happening at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
Professor Stowasser will investigate the ‘NCC’ sodium contransporter in kidney tubules, which when activated draws sodium out of urine and into the body.
When a person consumes a low-potassium diet, the renal-potassium switch turns ‘on’ the NCC, resulting in too much sodium being retained in the body causing increased blood pressure.
The trial will link in with international collaborators with the hopes of determining the effects on blood pressure for those with a high potassium diet compared to a low potassium diet.
