Potassium Orotate Dietary Supplement, 60 Caps - Reviews, Dosage

Potassium Orotate is a potassium supplement containing 150mg of potassium orotate per capsule. In an orotate form to maximise absorption, it helps to normalise nervous system function, and in particular, helps to maintain normal blood pressure.

What role does potassium play in our health?

Potassium is an essential mineral important for a number of vital physiological functions: it helps maintain the body’s acid-base balance, and plays a key role in the transmission of nerve impulses, muscle contractions and a great many reactions in the body.

According to medical authorities, adults need a minimum of 4700mg of potassium a day.

In fact, this figure is a significant under-estimate, given the very excessive sodium intakes typical of Western diets. Potassium and sodium actually work in tandem in the body: the more sodium we consume, the more potassium we need. In certain ethnic groups, researchers have observed 7 to 10 times higher potassium consumption, whereas in industrialised societies, we consume 3 times more sodium than potassium. This is a huge imbalance which upsets the body’s ability to maintain an acceptable pH and contributes to the development of pathological disorders and conditions:

• Hypertension. Epidemiological studies have reported a clear link between low-potassium diets and increases in blood pressure (1-4).
• Stroke. Low blood levels of potassium are also associated with an increased risk of stroke (5-6).

A lack of potassium normally manifests in fatigue, general weakness and muscle cramps, bloating, abdominal pain and constipation.

What specifically are the benefits of Potassium Orotate?

Potassium supplementation, recommended by the WHO (7), produces two benefits for health:

• It lowers blood pressure in people with hypertension (normalisation of blood pressure).
• It regulates nervous system function (transmission of nerve signals, release of neurotransmitters, motricity…).

How should Potassium Orotate supplements be taken?

We recommend taking three vegetarian capsules a day, according to your therapist’s advice. Supplementation should always be supervised by a health professional as there are actually several associated contraindications and unwelcome side-effects.

There are also a number of potential interactions, as several drugs can result in too much potassium (hyperkalaemia) or too little (hypokalemia).

Supplementing with potassium always requires consideration of recommendations relating to sodium. In fact, the ratio of sodium to potassium considered beneficial for health is 1:1. It’s therefore important to stay as close to this ratio as possible throughout the supplementation period in order to feel the benefits of potassium’s effects on blood pressure.

Other recommendations to follow alongside your potassium supplementation:

• Gradually replace table salt with herbs and spices to maintain flavour in your dishes.
• Do not exceed the limit of 5g of salt a day (that’s 2.4g of sodium).
• Prepare your meals from scratch. 80% of the salt we consume is thought to come from processed foods and ready-meals.
• Take regular, moderate exercise to help control your blood pressure.
• Don’t smoke.Smoking, like alcohol, weakens artery walls, so giving up is one of the first steps to take if you have high blood pressure.
• Ensure a good dietary fibre intake as it has a well-documented protective effect on the cardiovascular system.
• Learn to manage your stress levels better. The adrenalin released during stressful situations raises blood pressure due to its vasoconstrictive effect. When stress becomes chronic, it causes damage over time to the arteries and heart.
• Try other complementary supplements such as omega-3 and coenzyme q10, or genuine alternatives such as Tensix.