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Potassium

Mineral: potassium

Daily Value: 3,500 mg

Hazardous level: safe at 10xRDA

Average intake in US diet: 2,500 mg

Function: principal intracellular cation (positive ion), contributing to nerve impulses, control of

skeletal muscle contraction, and maintenance of normal blood pressure

DOSAGE RATIONALE: everyone gets enough in diet

KEY NOTES AND REFERENCES:

Kune, GA, et al, "Dietary sodium and potassium intake and colorectal cancer risk", Nutr. Cancer

12: 351-59 (1989)

"A high intake of potassium was protective... but this effect disappeared after adjustment

was made for [other] risk factors"- potassium is not protective for rectal cancer.

Zhang, ZF, et al "Adenocarcinomas of the esophagus and gastric cardia: the role of diet", Nutr.

Cancer 27: 298-309 (1997)

"Decreased risk...was significantly associated with high ingestion of...niacin, vitamin B6,

iron, and zinc. Higher intakes of vitamin A, beta-carotene, vitamin E, folate, phosphorus,

and potassium were associated with a decreased risk..."- decreased risk of

adenocarcinoma with higher intake of potassium, but not statistically significant

Pennington, J.A.T., Young, B.E., "Total Diet study nutritional elements, 1982-1989", J Am Diet

Assoc 91: 179-83 (1991) - potassium intakes were slightly below requirement for elderly

women, but not men!!

WHITE PAPER REFERENCES FOR STAY WELL FORMULATIONS

no evidence of connection with colds, viruses, immune system