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For adults the recommended daily intake of potassium is 4700 mg, but this is not set to prevent potassium deficiency (hypokalemia). Instead, "this level of dietary intake (i.e., from foods) should maintain lower blood pressure levels, reduce the adverse effects of sodium chloride intake on blood pressure, reduce the risk of recurrent kidney stones, and possibly decrease bone loss<ref name="RDA"/>." These benefits are largely from the bicarbonate and the other vegetable matter rather than from the potassium.
==Magnesium Deficiency==
Subjects who are deficient in both Potassium and [[Magnesium]] who are given just potassium supplements have normalized serum potassium levels, but not normalized muscle potassium until magnesium supplementation is also given<ref name="WhangWelt1963"/><ref name="Dyckner-1978"/>. Therefore, magnesium supplementation may be appropriate for those concerned about their potassium levels.
=How much potassium do we need?=
All adults should aim to get sufficient fruit and vegetables to ensure that they get the recommended intake of 4700 mg of potassium. However, as little as 580mg/day can prevent hypokalemia, though might cause insulin resistance<ref name="Norbiato-1984"/>. A study showed that healthy patients could maintain their potassium balance on 1600 mg per day, though they were at the lower end of the acceptable range<ref name="Sebastian-1971"/>.
