Lower potassium intake is considered to be correlated with diabetes incidence. However, few studies have investigated the
effect of potassium intake on metabolic syndrome (MetS). Data was taken from the Korean National Health and Nutritional
Examination Survey (2008?2010) using weighted adjustment. MetS was defined as per the revised National Cholesterol
Education Program criteria. Homeostasis model assessment indices were calculated to diagnosis insulin resistance (IR). A
total of 16,637 participants (4460.25 years) were included. Women ingested lower amounts of potassium (2.7160.02 g/day)
than men (3.4560.03 g/day). A curvilinear association between potassium intake and MetS prevalence was found among
women. Women with less than the Adequate Intake (4.7 g/day) of potassium had an 11% risk reduction for MetS (adjusted
odds ratio [OR], 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82?0.96; P=0.004) and a 10% risk reduction for IR (OR, 0.90; 95% CI,
0.82?0.99; P=0.026) for every 1 g/day potassium increase. Compared with the reference group (3.5?4.5 g/day), potassium
intake was inversely associated with an increased risk of MetS (1.5?2.5 g/day; OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.02?1.63; P=0.035; ,1.5 g/
day; OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.06?1.85; P=0.017) and IR (,1.5 g/day; OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.05?1.76; P=0.021). This relationship was
more prominent in postmenopausal women, but not observed among men. Higher potassium intake is significantly
associated with a lower MetS prevalence in women, and IR is believed to be connected.