Healthnotes Newswire (May 26, 2005)—A form of potassium found in fruits and vegetables may lower blood pressure as effectively as potassium chloride, a commonly used form of supplemental potassium that has been shown in previous studies to help lower blood pressure, reports Hypertension (2005;45:571–4).

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects more than 65 million Americans. It is defined as a systolic pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) of 140 mm Hg or greater and/or a diastolic pressure (the bottom number of a blood pressure reading) of 90 mm Hg or greater. African Americans are more likely than any other race to develop high blood pressure, and illness and death from hypertension-related causes are highest among this group. More ...