Dietary Reference Intakes: Potassium

Special Note

[recommendations reflect elemental potassium intake from all sources]

General Information

[salt form conversion]

500 mg potassium gluconate = 83.5 mg (2.14 mEq) elemental potassium

[primary functions]

maintains intracellular fluid volume, transmembrane electrochemical gradients

[selected sources]

fruits, vegetables, legumes, dairy, nuts, meat

Dietary Reference Intake

[0-6 mo]

400 mg/day; Info: upper limit not established; only sources of intake should be breastmilk, formula, and food

[7-11 mo]

860 mg/day; Info: upper limit not established; only sources of intake should be breastmilk, formula, and food

[1-3 yo]

2000 mg/day; Info: upper limit not established, potential for adverse effects with high supplement intake

[4-8 yo]

2300 mg/day; Info: upper limit not established, potential for adverse effects with high supplement intake

[9-18 yo, females]

2300 mg/day; Info: incr. to 2600 mg/day if pregnant, 2500 mg/day if breastfeeding; upper limit not established, potential for adverse effects with high supplement intake

[9-13 yo, males]

2500 mg/day; Info: upper limit not established, potential for adverse effects with high supplement intake

[14-18 yo, males]

3000 mg/day; Info: upper limit not established, potential for adverse effects with high supplement intake

[19 yo and older, females]

2600 mg/day; Info: incr. to 2900 mg/day if pregnant, 2800 mg/day if breastfeeding; upper limit not established, potential for adverse effects with high supplement intake

[19 yo and older, males]

3400 mg/day; Info: upper limit not established, potential for adverse effects with high supplement intake