Sodium, potassium et hypertension artérielle: un ménage à trois

The regulation of blood pressure (BP) is subject to the influence of various exogenous factors, such as a nutritional origin. It is now well established that excess sodium has a deleterious hypertensive effect. On the other hand, the beneficial impact of dietary potassium remains relatively under-reported, despite the fact that this cation has been shown to have a significant antihypertensive effect and to help reduce the risk of major cardiovascular (CV) events. This article provides an up-to-date summary of the scientific data on the effects of dietary potassium on BP and CV morbidity and mortality, detailing the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and suggesting dietary strategies for optimising potassium intake.