In a study of 104 subjects (65 males) who were 53 years of age with mild to moderate essential hypertension (systolic/diastolic blood pressure 154.2/96.2 mmHg), subjects were separated into 2 comparable groups of 52 and received either 30 mmol/day of potassium aspartate orally or no supplementation. There were no changes in clinical office and 24-hour blood pressure in the control group, but there were significant reductions in the potassium-supplemented group. Clinical office blood pressure dropped from 154.4 mmHg to 142.2 mmHg systolic, and diastolic from 95.0 mmHg to 87.2 mmHg, while 24-hour blood pressure was reduced from 142.7 mmHg to 134.8 mmHg systolic and diastolic from 90.8 mmHg to 84.6 mmHg following potassium supplementation. The treated group showed significantly increased potassium serum levels and 24-hour urinary excretion of potassium after 4 weeks, while the untreated group showed no changes in these same parameters. The urinary sodium/potassium ratio decreased significantly with potassium supplementation. Franzoni F, Santoro G, et al, Biomed Pharmacother, 2005;59:25-29.