Value of Potassium Magnesium Citrate in Preventing and Treating Hypertension in African Americans

In the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) trials, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts and dairy products, and limited in fat content, was shown to be useful in controlling hypertension, particularly in African Americans (AA). Key components of such a diet are potassium, magnesium, and alkali, each of which has been implicated in lowering blood pressure. In the original IND 116,208, the investigators explored whether potassium-magnesium citrate (KMgCit) as a powder pharmaceutical formulation (dissolved in water before ingestion) could serve as a surrogate for the DASH diet and would lower blood pressure among patients with pre- or Stage I hypertension. Unfortunately, previous studies did not include adequate number of African American patients.