The previous Adequate Intake for potassium was set at 4.7 grams based on the premise that this amount could abolish the blood pressure increase caused by salt.

“for potassium the old AI in 2005 was set on the basis that if that you could abolish the increase in blood pressure that otherwise was caused by salt if you could take your potassium up to four point seven grams in other words you take this group of people that seem to have blood pressure problems right give him a dose of salt their blood pressure goes up but if you raise their potassium to four point seven grams you give him that same dose of salt and nothing happens in their blood pressure”