confused about potassium setting

jocoyn

I recently noticed it dropped on my requirements from 4700mg to 2600mg. Is there a reason? I see some sights online are not pushing that value either and since I don't eat a bunch of calories (usually around 1600) I was fine with it being around 3500 (WHO) but in balance with sodium. Just wondering

Hilary

Great qeastion @jocoyn ,

The National Academies recently issued new dietary reference intakes for potassium and sodium. We have updated the Potassium and sodium targets to match the new recommendations.

You can view the new targets here: https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25353/dietary-reference-intakes-for-sodium-and-potassium.

jocoyn

Fascinating. Makes you wonder.........about all these micronutrient values.

Susan_RD_101

@jocoyn

The nutrient targets that are AIs or "adequate intakes" are very likely to adjust as better and more compelling research comes out. Even nutrients that have established EARs and RDAs (which are intake levels known to meet 50% and ~97% of health population, respectively) can change with better, more rigorous research.

Kind regards,

mevelyn147

I think that most people only get a small fraction of the minimum daily requirement of potassium. Achieving It would entail eating an enormous amount of targeted food each day. A friend of mine landed in the hospital with a critically low potassium level, and I wouldn't know how she can ever maintain the correct level considering she is such a poor eater to begin with.

Susan_RD_101

@mevelyn147

Yes, I think it's generally fine to be below the AI for potassium (recommended target is ~3500 calories). Low and elevated potassium tend to do more with hydration and kidney function than what we eat in our diet, but it definitely is a challenge to get enough potassium when we are unwell.

Kind regards,