Potassium intake and chronic renal failure

Is potassium intake directly associated with the incidence of chronic kidney disease? Researchers set out to answer this question in a prospective observational cohort study conducted in the UK between 2006 and 2010. A total of 317,162 participants were included, all without chronic kidney disease at inclusion. Participants with initially higher urinary potassium/creatinine ratios had lower blood pressure, BMI and inflammation levels. They were less likely to have diabetes or hypertension. Over the median follow-up period of 11.9 years, 15,246 participants developed chronic kidney disease. Dietary potassium intake showed a negative association with the incidence of chronic renal failure.