A health supplement commonly taken to ward off colds could cause agonizing side effects for millions of Britons, the health service has warned.
Potassium, an essential mineral found in dried fruits, bananas, beans and fish, helps balance fluids in the body and maintain normal blood pressure.
It is often taken as a supplement in the winter time as it can help the body absorb fluids when sick with a cold or flu.
But taking too much of the supplement can cause stomach pain, nausea and diarrhoea, new NHS guidance says, particularly for a subsection of the population.
Older people, the guidelines warn, may be at higher risk of unpleasant side effects from potassium because their kidneys are less able to remove potassium from the blood and should therefore take a supplement.
However, adults of all ages should aim to consume about 3,500 mg of potassium per day from dietary sources.
“You should be able to get all the potassium you need by eating a varied and balanced diet,” the NHS website states.
‘If you take potassium supplements, do not take too much as it could be harmful.
Taking too much potassium can cause stomach pain, nausea and diarrhea, according to new guidance from the National Health Service (NHS), especially for a subsection of the population.
‘Taking 3,700 mg or less of potassium supplements per day is unlikely to have any obvious harmful effects.
“Older people should not take potassium supplements unless directed by a doctor.”
Potassium is a positively charged electrolyte: minerals that help carry an electrical charge through the body to help muscles expand and contract, as well as send nerve signals from the brain.
Normally, your kidneys filter out excess potassium from the foods and drinks you consume.
But if there is too much of it in the body, the kidneys may not be able to remove it completely, causing it to build up in the blood.
This can cause embarrassing gastrointestinal symptoms because high levels of potassium in the blood weaken the smooth muscles of the intestines.
This causes diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating, and gas.
The condition, known as hyperkalemia, is more common in the elderly, as decreased kidney function makes potassium more likely to build up in the blood.
In severe cases, dangerously high levels of potassium can affect the heart, causing chest pain, palpitations, and heart attacks.
The condition, however, is relatively rare.
Almost 90 per cent of adults in the UK don’t even meet the recommended daily potassium intake of 3.5g.
According to the British Association of Dietitians, those concerned about their intake should eat five or more servings of fruit and vegetables a day, as well as plenty of nuts, seeds, legumes and moderate amounts of fish and dairy.
Potassium supplements, available at most pharmacies, typically come in 3,000 mg servings, just below the recommended amount for adults.
Those concerned about their potassium levels should speak to their GP, according to health service guidelines.