A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2025 by researchers at Copenhagen University Hospital has highlighted the heart health benefits of increasing potassium levels through diet. The study focused on 1,200 patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), devices that detect and correct irregular heartbeats known as ventricular arrhythmias.
According to a July 2025 World Health Organization report, cardiovascular diseases caused 19.8 million deaths in 2022, representing roughly 32 percent of all global deaths. Heart attacks and strokes accounted for 85 percent of these deaths, underscoring the critical need for preventive measures.
The findings revealed that participants who received potassium supplementation along with dietary guidance to consume potassium-rich foods such as white beets, beetroots, and cabbage experienced a 24 percent reduction in irregular heartbeats, heart failure, or death compared to those who did not. The study emphasizedthat patients at high risk of ventricular arrhythmias benefit most from potassium intake, but the findings suggest that increasing potassium consumption can improve heart health for the broader population as well.
Professor Henning Bundgaard, one of the lead authors, explained that humans evolved eating a diet high in potassium and low in sodium, but modern diets high in processed foods have disrupted this balance, increasing cardiovascular risk. The researchers also cautioned against relying on meat for potassium due to its high sodium content, which can negate the benefits.
This study provided a compelling evidence that increasing potassium intake through natural foods is a simple, cost-effective strategy to reduce the risk of arrhythmias, heart failure, and related deaths, supporting improved cardiovascular health worldwide.
Reference: Christian JÃ; Chaoqun Zheng; Ulrik C.G. WinslÃ,Elisabeth M. Danielsen’ Tharsika Sakthivel; Increasing the Potassium Level in Patients at High Risk for Ventricular Arrhythmias; New England Journal of Medicine; August 29, 2025; doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2509542
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