MINERALS // POTASSIUM

Potassium Intake Recommendations

The recommended daily intakes for potassium in Europe are  3.1grams (g) per day for adults (24). The reference valuse for Potassium intake in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (D-A-CH) for adults are 4,000 grams (g) and lactating women 4,4 grams (g) and for children of 1 to under 4 years the reverence value is 1,100 grams (g) (30).

The U.S. Food and Nutrition Board has established an adequate intake level (AI) for potassium in milligrams (mg) per day based on intake levels that have been found to lower blood pressure, reduce salt sensitivity, and minimize the risk of kidney stones (25).

 Life Stage  Age Males: (mg/day)Females: (mg/day)
 Infants0–6 months400400
 Infants 7–12 months700700
 Children  1–3 years3,0003,000
 Children 4–8 years3,8003,800
 Children9–13 years4,5004,500
 Adolescents14–18 years4,7004,700
 Adults19 years and older4,7004,700
 Pregnancy14-50 years-4,700
 Breast-feeding14-50 years-5,100

For a detailed overview of recommended daily intakes (PRIs/RDAs) of vitamins and minerals for adults derived from different countries and organizations see PDF.