Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies on a request from the Commission related to the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of Potassium (Request N° EFSA-Q-2003-018)

Gastrointestinal symptoms (discomfort, mucosal lesions and sometimes ulceration) have been seen in healthy subjects taking some forms of potassium supplements (e.g. slow-release, wax matrix formulations) with doses ranging from about 1 to 5 g potassium per day, or more, but incidence and severity seem to be more dependent on the formulation than on dose. In healthy adults administration of single doses of 5-7 g potassium or more (as chloride or bicarbonate solutions) have been reported to cause elevated plasma potassium, adverse changes in heart function and peripheral nerve symptoms in a limited number of case reports.