Authoritative data source & methodology
- Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs): Potassium. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2019 update). Official resource.
- WHO guideline on potassium intake for adults and children. World Health Organization (2012; reaffirmed in subsequent guidance). WHO publication.
Tutti i calcoli si basano rigorosamente sulle formule e sui dati forniti da questa fonte.
The formula explained
Let \(K_{\text{tot}}\) be total dietary potassium in mg, \(AI\) the Adequate Intake in mg/day, and \(Na_{\text{tot}}\) total sodium in mg.
\[ \%AI = \frac{K_{\text{tot}}}{AI} \times 100 \]
\[ \text{Na:K ratio} = \frac{Na_{\text{tot}}}{K_{\text{tot}}} \]
Food contributions are scaled from per-100 g database values: \[ K_i = K_{100,i} \times \frac{g_i}{100}, \quad Na_i = Na_{100,i} \times \frac{g_i}{100}, \quad K_{\text{tot}}=\sum_i K_i,\; Na_{\text{tot}}=\sum_i Na_i \]
Glossary of variables
| Symbol / Field | Meaning | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Age group, Sex, Pregnancy | Determines potassium AI. | — |
| Food, Amount | Your chosen items and serving sizes. | g |
| Additional sodium | Extra sodium not in the food list. | mg |
| \(K_{\text{tot}}\) | Total potassium intake. | mg |
| \(Na_{\text{tot}}\) | Total sodium intake. | mg |
| %AI | Percent of Adequate Intake reached. | % |
| Na:K | Sodium-to-potassium ratio (target < 1). | — |
How it works: a step-by-step example
Scenario. Female, 19–50 years (AI = 2600 mg/day). Foods: baked potato 200 g; cooked lentils 150 g; banana 120 g. Additional sodium: 0 mg.
- From the database (per 100 g): potato 544 mg K, lentils 369 mg K, banana 358 mg K.
- Scale to grams: \(K_{\text{potato}}=544\times 2=1088\) mg, \(K_{\text{lentils}}=369\times 1.5=553.5\) mg, \(K_{\text{banana}}=358\times 1.2=429.6\) mg.
- Total \(K_{\text{tot}} \approx 2071\) mg. %AI \(= 2071/2600 \times 100 \approx 79.7\%\).
- If sodium were 1800 mg: Na:K \(= 1800/2071 \approx 0.87\) (under 1 is preferable).
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to increase potassium?
For healthy individuals, increasing potassium from foods is generally beneficial. People with kidney disease or on certain medications must consult their clinician first.
Why do AI values differ by age and sex?
They reflect differences in body size, metabolism, and physiological needs (e.g., pregnancy/lactation).
Do I need to track every food precisely?
No—use typical portions of potassium-rich foods and reduce high-sodium items to push your ratio below 1 over time.
What about supplements vs. food?
Food sources also provide fiber and other nutrients; supplements can pose risks without supervision. Always check with a professional.
Can I export or print my results?
Yes. Use the Print button for a clean printout or save as PDF.
Disclaimer: This tool is for education only and not a medical device. It does not diagnose or treat any condition.
Formula (LaTeX) + variables + units
\%AI = \frac{K_{\text{tot}}}{AI} \times 100
\text{Na:K ratio} = \frac{Na_{\text{tot}}}{K_{\text{tot}}}
K_i = K_{100,i} \times \frac{g_i}{100}, \quad Na_i = Na_{100,i} \times \frac{g_i}{100}, \quad K_{\text{tot}}=\sum_i K_i,\; Na_{\text{tot}}=\sum_i Na_i
Let \(K_{\text{tot}}\) be total dietary potassium in mg, \(AI\) the Adequate Intake in mg/day, and \(Na_{\text{tot}}\) total sodium in mg. \[ \%AI = \frac{K_{\text{tot}}}{AI} \times 100 \] \[ \text{Na:K ratio} = \frac{Na_{\text{tot}}}{K_{\text{tot}}} \] Food contributions are scaled from per-100 g database values: \[ K_i = K_{100,i} \times \frac{g_i}{100}, \quad Na_i = Na_{100,i} \times \frac{g_i}{100}, \quad K_{\text{tot}}=\sum_i K_i,\; Na_{\text{tot}}=\sum_i Na_i \]
- No variables provided in audit spec.
- WHO publication — who.int · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241504829 - Official resource — nationalacademies.org · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/dietary-reference-intakes-for-sodium-and-potassium
Last code update: 2026-01-19
- Initial audit spec draft generated from HTML extraction (review required).
- Verify formulas match the calculator engine and convert any text-only formulas to LaTeX.
- Confirm sources are authoritative and relevant to the calculator methodology.