Potassium reduces plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in rats

Potassium protects against mortality from vascular disease in a manner largely unrelated to blood pressure. Instead, potassium prevents formation of early vascular lesions. We found that potassium reduces production of Superoxide anion by cultured monocyte/macrophages and endothelial cells (McCabe, et al., Hypertension, 1994; 24:77-82). The present study employs TBARS, an index of plasma oxidized lipids, to investigate any in-vivo correlation to the in-vitro supression of Superoxide anion production. Six week old female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high fat diet containing 2% sodium and either 0.2% (low K⁺, n=7) or 3.0% potassium (high K⁺, n=7). After 4 weeks plasma TBARS was measured. The low K+ group had a TBARS of 9.9610.14 nmol/L (mean±S.E.) and the high K⁺ group had a TBARS of 8.76±0.11 nmol/L. There was a highly significant difference (p=0.000016) between groups.