I, a 61 year old woman, want to know if I can take a vitamin preparation with 41 mg potassium. My doctor is very against vitamin pills. I take blood pressure lowering and diuretics. Other than that I am healthy.
Anonymously
Joris Bartstra, journalist with medical diploma
Yes, that’s allowed: on potassium is nothing against. If you eat normally, you will get several grams of it, because it is a component of all plant and animal cells, from cauliflower and apple to fish and meat. So the fact that 41 thousandth of a gram is added via a vitamin preparation makes no difference.
The water pill gives a chance of a potassium deficiency, so that little bit extra in the vitamin pill is more good than bad. A potassium level that is too high is a risk in poorly functioning kidneys that cannot process the excess, but since you are otherwise healthy, that is not an issue for you.
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