EFSA: Dietary Values for Potassium

On 25 October 2016, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published the Dietary reference values for potassium following a request from the European Commission.Potassium is an essential mineral and plays a major role in the distribution of water inside and outside cells, assists in the regulation of the acid-base balance, and contributes to establishing a membrane potential which supports electrical activity in nerve fibers and muscle cells.The panel proposes the following adequate intake (AI): 3,500 mg/day for adult men and women (pregnant and non-pregnant), from 800 mg/day (1-3 years old) to 3,500 mg/day (15-17 years old) for children and 4,000 mg/day for lactating women.Dietary reference values for potassium. EFSA Journal 2016;14(10):4592. 56 pp.