Potassium!

[Cliff_G]

Has anyone else tried supplementing potassium to ease arrythmias? I've had a surprising result. Sorry for long post.

Magnesium is the oft talked about one for AF or ectopics, and I added magnesium quite a while back, with a marginal though noticeable effect on damping ectopics. I recently checked my calcium intake on my GP's advice as I am off dairy due to probably a lactose intolerance, and did indeed find it low. So whilst other foods have Ca, I needed supplements too. The Ca had no effect on my arrhythmias (& not expecting any).

But along with calcium check I was able to see that my potassium intake was also low - around half of the 3.4 to 4.7 g/day (from various sources) required. My K levels in previous bloods have always been within the 3.5 - 5 required range - varying from 3.7 to 4.7. Nevertheless, I was being driven mad by ectopics, burping, wind, and rapidly varying heart rate (around a cycle of 2 to 4 seconds), all causing sleepless nights.

So I started eating bananas rigorously, also bought some decent-strength potassium citrate, 500 mg tablets, and slowly increased these, always being aware too much K is also bad for you. After a couple of weeks I felt things were improving and at present I've been on them for 5 weeks. As an AF veteran I'm used to thinking things have helped, only to be disappointed. However I am pretty sure they are helping. The ectopics are much fewer, and the heart rate variability has just about disappeared - most of the time my rhythm is now rock solid regular, and it's this change in particular which has convinced me something good is going on. The wind and burping is also less (as well as this driving ectopics, an irritable heart can make the gut worse, as I've found over the years).

Part of the reason I did this was from a hospital stay 4 years ago when my AF restarted due to an aortic dissection. The hospital said my K levels were in range, but that "we like you up the top end of the range" and gave me some horrible tasting K supplementation (sachets). So I figured maybe being at 3.7 was a bit low for me, and maybe the periods I've had fewer ectopics correspond to when I was more like 4.7.

My cardiologist listened with interest and did recommend that I get my K levels checked again to make sure I'm not too high, which I'm very happy to do. But in the meantime the fact that my arrhythmias are lessened seems to be the proof of what is needed, rather than just going by numbers.

So, I just wondered if anyone else had similar experience? The literature is full of the effect of low (sub-3.5) or very low K levels causing AF etc, but there appears not to be any work on whether the standard range is actually that much of a guide if you have a tendency to arrhythmia.

[secondtry]

Yes Cliff, I think Potassium is a key supplement to watch. I certainly find I am eating more bananas than I used to. Only averaging half a day but will step that up on your advice!

[CDreamer]

Agree that the electrolyte balance is really important and not nearly enough focus on this. Unfortunately we seem to be left very much to our own devices.

Only caveat Potassium overload can be very dangerous so best for most of us to stick with high Potassium foods as a source.

hsph.harvard.edu/nutritions...

[Dodie117]

I agree with CDreamer. Be careful. When my levels were checked I was too high and seemingly can be very dangerous.

If you are doing this make sure potassium levels are checked regularly.

[Cliff_G in reply to Dodie117]

Yes, thanks. Indeed over-high potassium is dangerous - VF, so I'm hoping to get the first test soon. It's worst if you're on a med which prevents potassium excretion, and I'm on a cocktail including furosemide, which reduces potassium by making you wee more, and Epleronone which is a potassium sparing diuretic, so the two will be fighting, and all the more reason to get checked. Though it's clear to me that my rhythm is much better than before so from observation I'd say I'm probably fine. As an ex-fibber of 28 years, I can tell the slightest change straight away. BTW, potassium drops your INR if you're on warfarin. Mine dropped about 0.5, so having an effect, but not excessive.

[DKBX]

I’ve been on a prescribed K supplement for 10 years since AF started. Still ended up needing 4 ablations, 5 cardioversions, and need metoprolol and flecainide. I take the Mg and of course the anticoagulant, live the clean life, etc etc. All the things that are supposed to work … AND I STILL get AF!Keep those electrolytes in balance but don’t expect it to be the miracle cure. Good luck!

[Ppiman]

You've obviously researched this well, but its maybe worth saying that, in general, people need to take great care supplementing with potassium as the body is (as with magnesium and calcium but less crucially so, it seems) perfectly designed to keep the levels of these crucial nutrients at an optimum level. Usually, when they go awry, I gather that it's not because of food intake but because of other metabolic and malabsorption factors to do with intestines, liver, kidneys or thyroid.

Steve

[Figbar]

My cardiologist said to keep my potassium at the higher level but did not suggest supplementation, only foods high in potassium.Have you researched different types of potassium?

K2 for example?

Thank you!

[Cliff_G in reply to Figbar]

Yes, my cardiologist suggested dietary, but I tried that and it was actually quite difficult to get enough, save for eating dried apricots. Not familiar with K2 - any more info?

[Figbar in reply to Cliff_G]

Supposedly k2 assists in preventing osteoporosis/fracture along with preventing calcium deposits leading to atherosclerosis.All potassium assists with blood clotting so of course the question is will it effect the efficacy of Eliquis?!

IDK……

[baba in reply to Figbar]

I think you are talking about Vitamin K2, not potassium.

[Figbar in reply to baba]

Oh my gosh! DUH!!Yes yes I am.

My dried apricots and bananas are got my potassium

Thank you 👍😊

[RoyMacDonald]

Yes, I eat a banana every day at about 7 pm. as the potassium helps you get a good nights sleep so I read a sleep expert say. I rarely get any AF now.

All the best.

Roy

[Palpman]

I was also suspecting hypokalemia for my arrhythmia but getting the nurse to do a blood test based on my suspicions is out the question.

I eat 2 bananas a day and check my Kardia ECG's for excessive potassium. The T wave would wobble or have a notch.

[MarkS]

Potassium was the only supplement which appeared to have any effect on my AF in the early days. I was rather put off by the risk of overdoing it. I have in the past taken a little low-salt, which contains KCl, dissolved in water if I've sweat a lot and my heart feels jumpy.

[Wombat3]

Because I can’t take beta blockers, my arrhythmia was all over the place. I have upped my intake of potassium based foods, particularly coconut water and also magnesium supplements and my arrhythmia is so, so much better. My life seems almost normal again.

[Sean711 in reply to Wombat3]

I've heard coconut water is an excellent source. I hope it taste good because I'm going to give it a try.

[alrk]

From what i read about potassium i avoid “tablets” and use a dissolvable form of Potassium Gluconate - 1 teaspoon provides (i think) 390mg potassium.I also only take with food

I think that the problem with tablets is that they can cause damage to stomach lining if they get stuck in one place.

I am very interested in the while electrolyte topic, so if anyone has an sources, please share.

[Cliff_G]

Fibbers will be unsurprised to know it didn't last. After a months of a really good rhythm I slowly over 3 weeks went back into having a lot of ectopics and rate variability. My K was checked at that point and was 4.3, so, normal. But I'm so convinced something was happening that I've taken thencardiologist's advice to try and get off furosemide, which depletes K, so doing that along with my GP. Down to one a day and another K level in 3 weeks, then if ok, come off completely.

The physiology text books say the body handles high levels of potassium by absorbing it into thw cells, then releasing it slowly so the kidneys can manage it. Maybe that's what happened. A bit of an n=1 study going on here!

[Cliff_G]

Update.

After 8 long months, some good, some less so, with my GP I have stopped Furosemide completely and slowly increased Losartan (a potassium-retainer) from 25 to 100 mg (for BP reasons, with K as a side effect). Generally each of these changes has seen an improvement in the ectopics, bar a period following about 3 good months, when my K dropped below 4.0. Looks like I need to be at 4.5 plus. So, going in the right direction but a question mark over how my body manages potassium and why could it be ok for months (whether due to supplements or meds) then slip back.