Effects of combined supplementation of potassium, calcium and magnesium with moderate sodium restriction in hypertensive patients - Assessment by blood pressure monitoring

We studied effects of combined supplementation of moderate doses of potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) with moderate sodium (Na) restriction on office, home and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) in 56 hypertensive patients. The subjects were given 1250 mg of K, 600 mg of Ca, and 300 mg of Mg daily and were asked to reduce Na intake for 4 weeks in a randomized crossover manner. Urinary excretions of K, Ca and Mg increased while Na excretion decreased significantly with the intervention. Office, home and 24-hour BP decreased significantly, although average reductions were only 3-4/1-2 mmHg. This depressor effect was greater in patients who showed distinct reductions in Na excretion (≤34 mmol/day). These results indicate that the combination of moderate increases in K, Ca and Mg intake with Na restriction reduces BP in hypertensive patients. However, effects of the modification of mineral intake appear to be small unless Na restriction is achieved.