Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Studies have shown that consistent reductions of 2 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure (SBP) for the general normotensive population can result in significant decreases in mortality from heart disease and stroke. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to determine the optimal dose and duration of treatment for magnesium and potassium supplementation, having previously discovered that both reduce SBP by -2.79 and -2.10 mm Hg, respectively. METHODS: Placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials examining the effects of magnesium and potassium supplementation on SBP were identified. Pairwise meta-analyses with subgroups for dosage and treatment duration were run. RESULTS: Magnesium at dosages of ≤360 mg/day and durations greater than 3 months reduced SBP by -3.03 and -4.31 mm Hg, respectively. Potassium at dosages of ≤60 mmol/day and durations greater than 1 month reduced SBP by -2.34 and -2.80 mm Hg, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both supplements demonstrated greater reductions in SBP for the general population at lower dosages and longer treatment durations. Future studies are needed to validate these findings and provide tailored recommendations. These studies could investigate varying dosages over long-term follow-up to provide robust data on optimal dosages and treatment durations, as our findings were limited due to reliance on previously published trials.