People with certain medical conditions, such as kidney disease or gastrointestinal conditions that cause vomiting and diarrhea, or people taking medications such as diuretics that cause excess potassium loss, may need potassium supplements: Prevent deficiency.
"The only people who would benefit from taking potassium supplements are those who have blood tests showing potassium deficiency or who may be at high risk for deficiency," says Jessica Shapiro, a registered dietitian at Montefiore Einstein Advanced Care in New York City. in City: York. “Low potassium levels by themselves are rarely associated with low dietary potassium intake, and the cause of low potassium levels needs to be determined.”
“People with proven potassium deficiency or hypokalemia may benefit from potassium supplements,” says Los Angeles-based Kien Vuu, MD, founder of Vuu MD Performance and Longevity Consulting.
Potassium supplements for people with potassium deficiency may include:
- Helps maintain electrolyte balance . Potassium plays an important role in maintaining the electrical balance of cells, which is important for nerve function and muscle contraction.
- Reduce blood pressure . Getting enough potassium can help dilate blood vessels and remove sodium, lowering blood pressure.
- Protecting bone health . Some research suggests that potassium can neutralize acids that rob the body of calcium, helping to maintain bone mineral density.
- Reduce your risk of stroke . Increased potassium intake may reduce the risk of stroke.
Types of Potassium Supplements
Dietary supplements usually contain potassium in the form of potassium chloride. However, potassium supplements come in many forms, including:
- Potassium chloride. Although it tastes similar to sodium chloride or table salt, potassium chloride can be used to flavor foods without adding sodium.
- Potassium citrate. The potassium salt of citric acid, potassium citrate, is used to reduce the acidity of urine and helps treat kidney stones known as tubular acidosis.
- Potassium phosphate. This potassium phosphate salt acidifies the urine and can be used to treat low phosphate levels.
- Potassium aspartate. Potassium aspartate, widely used as an electrolyte supplement, is the potassium salt of aspartic acid, an essential amino acid.
- Potassium bicarbonate. In addition to treating low potassium levels, this alkaline potassium carbonate is used as an over-the-counter antacid.
- Potassium gluconate. This potassium salt of gluconic acid is classified as a dietary supplement by the FDA and is an effective supplement for treating low potassium levels.
Potassium Supplement Dosage
The recommended daily amount of potassium from all sources is 2,600 to 3,400 milligrams for people 18 years of age and older, depending on gender and whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding. However, people in the United States generally do not consume the recommended amount of potassium through food alone.
Most potassium supplements contain 99 milligrams of potassium. Supplements containing more than 99 milligrams of potassium have been linked to small intestinal damage and are considered safe by the Food and Drug Administration.
High doses of potassium can damage the intestines and increase the risk of potassium toxicity, known medically as hyperkalemia, Shapiro says. "Higher doses of potassium may be prescribed by your health care provider, but they should be carefully monitored."
“It is important to follow your doctor's recommendations and not exceed the upper limit, as excess potassium can be harmful,” reiterates Dr. Wu.
