During the autumn season in Poland, we mainly think of vitamin D supplementation, but we should probably consider enriching our diet with potassium as well - at least that is what a study by scientists in the United Kingdom suggests. It turns out that potassium, present in so many different products, may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
The scientists from the University of Alabama at Birmingham conducted their analyses on mice. However, these rodents were special - they suffered from deficits in apolipoprotein E, making them more prone to developing atherosclerosis. This entity, on the other hand, is special in that it is one of the primary risk factors for various cardiovascular diseases, including ischaemic heart disease and myocardial infarction.
During the study, the rodents were divided into several different groups - some were given a diet high in potassium, while other mice were given potassium-poor foods. The first observation that the scientists were able to make was already quite promising - those rodents whose diet was high in potassium were significantly less prone to developing stiff blood vessels and calcification within them (these phenomena are associated with atherosclerosis).
Analyses were also conducted on special cell cultures containing vascular smooth muscle cells. It turned out that high potassium concentrations in the environment of these cells can reduce the risk of a phenomenon known as autophagy, which can also ultimately increase the likelihood of atherosclerosis. By preventing autophagy, potassium could therefore also prevent atherosclerosis.
Legumes, potatoes and spinach, among others, are rich in potassium, so should we maximise the potassium supply in the diet in order to prevent heart disease? Not necessarily, as potassium is harmful both in excess and when there is too little of it in the body. The most important thing is, as always, moderation.