Increased consumption of potassium-rich foods that are part of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet did not raise blood potassium to dangerous levels in people taking medications to lower their blood pressure, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2026. The findings address a critical safety concern for patients on common blood pressure drugs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), which are known to increase potassium levels. The study provides assurance that the DASH diet can be prescribed to a wide range of people, including those at risk for hyperkalemia, a condition that can disrupt heart rhythm.
The DASH diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and low-fat dairy, while limiting red meat, salt, and added sugars. This dietary pattern aligns with the American Heart Association’s 2026 Dietary Guidance to Improve Cardiovascular Health. The study analyzed data from the GoFresh and GoFreshRx randomized trials, which enrolled Black adults in the Boston area with high blood pressure, some taking medications such as ACE inhibitors, ARBs, potassium-sparing diuretics, and beta blockers, as well as NSAIDs. Participants received either DASH-patterned groceries or a monetary stipend for three months. Blood potassium levels were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks.
The analysis found that eating more potassium-rich foods did not increase potassium levels to dangerous levels in any medication subgroup. Average baseline serum potassium was normal at 4.16 mmol/L in the grocery group and 4.18 mmol/L in the stipend group. There was no significant increase in potassium levels regardless of group assignment. “Knowing that the DASH diet did not increase blood potassium levels in this population with normal baseline potassium levels provides assurance that the DASH diet can be prescribed to a wide range of people,” said Marian Budu, M.B.B.S., M.P.H., presenting author and clinical research coordinator at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Kevin Volpp, M.D., Ph.D., a volunteer expert with the American Heart Association and scientific lead of the Association’s Health Care by Food initiative, noted, “This follow-up study is important because it confirms that significant increases in potassium did not occur with the DASH diet, even for patients on medications that might contribute to increased potassium levels.” The study was funded by the American Heart Association, and its overall financial information is available here.
However, the study had limitations: it did not include people with stage 4 or stage 5 kidney disease or those with higher-than-normal potassium levels at baseline, and the population was limited to Black adults in Boston, so results may not be generalizable. Future research should focus on participants with suboptimal kidney function and higher baseline potassium. The findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript. The abstracts will be available in the Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2026 Supplement of the Hypertension journal. Additional resources include the American Heart Association news release Following 9 key steps for a lifetime of eating well can support heart health and Reducing sodium in everyday foods may yield heart-health benefits across populations.
For more information on potassium and heart health, see the American Heart Association’s A Primer on Potassium. The original release is available on www.newmediawire.com.
