Summary
This longitudinal analysis tracked global dietary potassium supplies across 57 years (1961–2017), revealing an increase from approximately 2984 to 3796 mg capita⁻¹ day⁻¹ globally, with particularly steep rises in East Asia (from <3000 to >5000 mg capita⁻¹ day⁻¹). Roots and tubers were the dominant dietary potassium source, contributing up to 80% of supplies in most regions. The study highlights that assessment of dietary potassium sufficiency is highly sensitive to which reference standard for adequate intake is applied, complicating global comparison and indicating a need for harmonised recommendations.
UK applicability
The findings provide international context for UK dietary potassium status, though the paper does not report UK-specific data. The emphasis on roots, tubers, fruits and vegetables as primary potassium sources is relevant to UK food supply and policy discussions on dietary adequacy and horticultural sufficiency.
Key measures
Dietary supply of potassium (DSK; mg capita⁻¹ day⁻¹), adequate intake of potassium (AIK), potassium sufficiency ratio (KSR = DSK:AIK), contribution by food group (%), regional and continental variation
Outcomes reported
The study assessed per capita dietary potassium supplies (DSK), adequate intake (AIK), and potassium sufficiency ratio (KSR) across 195 countries from 1961 to 2017, quantifying contributions from food groups and exploring temporal and spatial trends. Global mean DSK increased from 2984 mg capita⁻¹ day⁻¹ in 1961 to 3796 mg capita⁻¹ day⁻¹ in 2017, with marked regional variation and sensitivity to AIK reference standards.
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