Metabolic syndrome/Addendum

Abstract by Sharma et al. cited in Main Aricle

---

Low Dietary Potassium Intake Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in US Adults

Shailendra Sharma, MD, M. Chonchol, MD, Jessica B. Kendrick, MD. University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO; Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO.

Background: High dietary potassium intake decreases blood pressure levels and decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease but the relationship between potassium intake and metabolic syndrome (MetS) has not been examined.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2007). A total of 25,754 US adult participants with dietary data were included in the analysis. Dietary potassium intake was calculated from 24-hour dietary recall obtained by trained interviewers.

Potassium intake was examined in quartiles 1-4 (≤1701 [≤43.5], 1702-2415 [43.5-61.8], 2416-3290 [61.8-84.1], >3290 [>84.1] (mg/day [mmol/day]).

The primary outcome was MetS defined according to recent guidelines from the National Cholesterol Education Program. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine the association between potassium intake and MetS.

Results: The mean (SE) age of participants was 45 (0.3) years. The mean (SE) potassium intake was 2718 (18) mg/day. Participants in the lowest quartile of potassium intake were more likely to be female, to be black, and to have lower years of education than subjects in the higher quartiles of potassium intake.

6,118 (23.8%) participants met the diagnostic criteria for MetS. Subjects with MetS were older, had higher systolic blood pressure and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) than subjects without MetS.

After adjustment for age, sex, race, smoking status, body mass index, eGFR, and serum albumin, subjects in the first quartile of potassium intake had a 35% increased risk of MetS compared to subjects in the fourth quartile (OR 1.35, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.16 to 1.57). Subjects in the second quartile of potassium intake also had an increased risk of MetS compared to subjects in the fourth quartile (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.40).

Conclusions:

• Low dietary potassium intake is associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome in US adults.
• Interventional studies are needed to determine if increasing dietary potassium intake reduces the risk of metabolic syndrome.

Funding: NIDDK Support

Course: Annual Meeting: Abstract Sessions, 2012 Session: Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Disorders Date/Time: Friday, November 2, 2012 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Abstract by Lee et al. cited in Main Article

---

Dietary Potassium Intake and Risk of Metabolic Syndrome

Hajeong Lee, Jeonghwan Lee, MD, Nam ju Heo, MD, PhD, Jin Suk Han, MD, PhD. Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Korea.

Background: Higher potassium intake is related to lower blood pressure and subsequent cardiovascular outcomes. Recent studies revealed that lower dietary potassium was associated with new onset diabetes. However, only few studies have investigated the effect of potassium intake on metabolic syndrome (MS).

Methods: To investigate dietary potassium intake in relation to risk of MS, the Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey data from 2008 to 2010 were obtained.

Among 29,235 participants, 19,193 adults who performed dietary survey were included. MS was defined as ATP III guideline.

To estimate the insulin resistance (IR), homeostasis model assessment indices were calculated and their highest quartile was defined as IR group.

Results: Individuals with higher potassium intake showed lower risk of MS (P=0.002) in women, but not in men (P=0.161). 0.739; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.626-0.873, P<0.001) in women.

Among the 5 components of MS, this association was maintained only in the hypertriglyceridemia (OR 0.710, 95% CI 0.612-0.823, P<0.001).

Especially, women without both diabetes and hypertension (OR 0.566, 95% CI 0.439-0.730, P<0.001) or with postmenopausal state (OR 0.728, 95% CI 0.597-0.886, P=0.002) showed more protective effect of potassium on MS.

Furthermore, highest potassium quartile group was an independent protective factor for IR (OR 0.804, 95% CI 0.693-0.933, P=0.004). In men, potassium intake was not associated with MS or IR.

Conclusions:

• Our findings suggest that higher potassium intake is significantly associated with lower risk of MS in women of general population and IR is thought to be participated in the relationship.
• These results support the recommendations for higher consumption of potassium rich foods to prevent cardiovascular diseases in another aspect.

Course: American Society of Nephrology Annual Meeting: Abstract Sessions Session: Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Disorders Date/Time: Friday, November 2, 2012 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM