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New research shows that people who don't consume enough potassium-rich foods could be at an increased risk of stroke. In a study of 5,600 men and women over the age of 65, those with the lowest intake of potassium were up to 2 1/2 times more likely to suffer a stroke compared to those with the highest levels of potassium in their diet.
Study participants were monitored over a four- to six-year period, and the incidence of stroke was recorded. Researchers also tracked the amount of potassium consumed, the level of potassium in the blood, and the use of water pills (diuretics).
The results indicated that those most at risk of stroke were people taking diuretics who already had low levels of potassium and nondiuretic users with low potassium intakes.
Diuretics--commonly prescribed to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, and kidney disease--tend to lower potassium levels. However, the findings do not mean diuretics increase the chance of having a stroke, says lead investigator Dr. Deborah Green of The Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu.
"The question is whether diuretics would be even more effective with adequate potassium intake," said Dr. Green, whose study was published in the journal Neurology in August.
Bananas are probably the best-known dietary source of potassium. Other foods rich in potassium include cantaloupes, milk, orange juice, and potatoes.
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