Source: DGNews  |  Posted 9 years ago

By Jill Stein

CHICAGO, IL -- November 19, 2002 - Potassium administration improves muscle blood flow and metabolism in patients with heart failure, say researchers.

This finding was reported here on Monday at the 2002 Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association (AHA).

Dr. Javed Butler and colleagues at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, studied the effect of potassium administration on leg circulation and metabolism in eight heart failure patients. The trial excluded patients with exercise limiting angina, valvular heart disease, symptomatic peripheral vascular disease, and intrinsic lung disease.

Central hemodynamics, leg blood flow, and metabolic parameters were measured during maximal treadmill exercise, before, and two hours after intravenous potassium chloride infusion (0.5 mEq/kg). Four additional patients underwent identical testing after placebo infusion and served as controls.

Infusion of potassium chloride increased potassium levels at rest (4.0