Potassium, also know as kalium, is a mineral and an electrolyte that is essential to human health. It is the seventh most abundant element in the Earth and the the third most abundant mineral in the human body. Potassium is an essential constituent for plant growth and it is found in most soils. It is also a vital element in the human diet.
Potassium is necessary for the proper function of all living cells, tissues, and organs in the human body. As an electrolyte, it conducts electricity in the body, along with sodium, chloride, calcium, and magnesium. Potassium is crucial to heart function and plays a key role in skeletal and smooth muscle contraction, making it important for normal digestive and muscular function.
Many foods contain potassium, including all meats, some types of fish (such as salmon, cod, and flounder), and many fruits, vegetables, and legumes. Dairy products are also good sources of potassium (see section on Potassium Rich Foods for more information).
Having too much potassium in the blood is called hyperkalemia; having too little is known as hypokalemia. Keeping the right potassium balance in the body depends on the amount of sodium and magnesium in the blood. Too much sodium -- common in Western diets that use a lot of salt -- may increase the need for potassium. Diarrhea, vomiting, excessive sweating, malnutrition, malabsorption syndromes (such as Crohn’s disease) can also cause potassium deficiency, as well as use of a kind of heart medicine called loop diuretics (see section on Potassium Deficiency for more information).
Most people get all of the potassium they need from a healthy diet rich in vegetables and fruits. Older people have a greater risk of hyperkalemia because their kidneys are less efficient at eliminating potassium as they age. Older people should be careful when taking medication that may affect potassium levels, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and ACE inhibitors (see section on Potassium Interactions for more information).
Whatever your age, talk to your doctor before taking potassium supplements.
Potassium is used for treating and preventing low potassium levels. It is also used to treat high blood pressure and prevent stroke.
Some people use it to treat high levels of calcium, a type of dizziness called Menière’s disease, thallium poisoning, insulin resistance, symptoms of menopause, and infant colic. It is also used for allergies, headaches, acne, alcoholism, Alzheimer’s disease, confusion, arthritis, blurred vision, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, an intestinal disorder called colitis, constipation, dermatitis, bloating, fever, gout, insomnia, irritability, mononucleosis, muscle weakness, muscular dystrophy, stress, and with medications as treatment for myasthenia gravis.
Almost all of the potassium in the world is used in fertilizers. As potassium ions are a vital part of plant nutrition, crops and trees must be grown in soil with high concentrations of potassium ions. Potassium chloride, potassium sulfate and potassium nitrate are used in agriculture, horticulture and hydroponics.
Potassium chloride is used to stop the heart. This is used for heart surgery (where the heart is stopped and re-started) and lethal injections.
Potassium iodide (KI) is used for radiological emergencies to protects against radiation poisoning of the thyroid gland.
Rochelle salt, which contains potassium, is the main component in baking powder. It is also used to coat glass with silver.
Potassium bromate is added to flour to make it stronger and rise the dough better.
Another compound of potassium, potassium bisulfate, is used to preserve foods (except meats), wine and beer. It can also be used to bleach textiles and straw and can tan leather.
Submarines and spacecraft often contain the superoxide KO2. This supplies oxygen to the inhabitants of the submarine or spacecraft!
Potassium hydroxide is a strong base. It is used in industries and science laboratories to neutralize acids and make potassium salts. It is also added to fats and oils to make soap.
Potassium chlorate is used to kill weeds. It is also used in safety matches.
Toughened glass (stronger than ordinary glass) is made using potassium nitrate.
Two compounds of potassium are used as inks and dyes.
Potassium cyanide is used in gold mining.
Potassium is a mineral that is imperative to good health. In addition to maintaining the acid and water balance in blood and tissue cells, potassium has been shown to:
Prevent high blood pressure
Help maintain a normal heartbeat
Decrease bone loss associated with aging
Reduce kidney stone risk
Assist in muscle building
Transmit electrical signals between nerves and cells
Stroke: Potassium plays an important role in keeping the working of brain in normal state. People who get a lot of potassium in their diet have a lower risk of stroke. It is of great importance in preventing the occurrence of stroke in human brain. It is a fact that a person suffering from this dreadful disease may be found deficient in this essential body nutrient.
Low blood sugar: Decrease in potassium level causes a drop in blood sugar level. Decrease in blood sugar level causes sweating, headache, weakness, trembling and nervousness. Intake of potassium chloride and sodium provides immediate relief from such situation.
Muscle disorders: Potassium plays an important role in regular muscle contraction. Right concentration of potassium, is required for the regular contraction and relaxation of the muscle. Most of the potassium ions of the human body are present inside the muscle cells. It maintains muscle function and optimal nerve.
Hypokalemia: The most important use of potassium is to treat the symptoms of hypokalemia (low potassium), which include weakness, lack of energy, muscle cramps, stomach disturbances, an irregular heartbeat, and an abnormal EKG (electrocardiogram, a test that measures heart function). Hypokalemia is usually caused by the body losing too much potassium in the urine or intestines; it’s rarely caused by a lack of potassium in the diet. Hypokalemia can be life threatening and should always be treated by a doctor.
Brain function: Potassium channels play a key role in maintaining the electrical conductivity of brain and affect the brain function. It is also involved in higher brain function like memory and learning. In addition to it, serious ailments like epilepsy are related to the functioning of potassium channels.
Blood Pressure: Potassium is helpful in reversing the role of sodium in unbalancing the normal blood pressure. Thus, it acts as a vital component, which maintains the normality of blood pressure in human body. Studies show that increasing potassium intake reduces the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Researchers suspect this is largely due to potassium’s blood pressure lowering effects. Regulation of blood pressure is an important function of this mineral. However, before taking potassium or any supplement for high blood pressure, talk to your doctor.
Bone Health: Studies show a positive link between a diet rich in potassium and bone health, particularly among elderly women, suggesting that increasing consumption of foods rich in potassium may play a role in osteoporosis prevention. More research is needed to determine whether a diet high in potassium can reduce bone turnover in people.
Anxiety and Stress: Potassium is of great importance for people suffering from undesirable mental states like anxiety and stress. It is considered as a perfect stress buster and thus it ensures efficient mental performance of human body.
Muscular Strength: This is in fact, one of the most appreciable benefits of potassium, as it ensures proper growth of muscle tissues and proper utilization of energy released during metabolism to add significant worth to muscular strength. The muscles, together with cardiac muscle, are prone to paralysis due to deficiency of potassium in diet.
Metabolism: It assists in metabolic process of various nutrients like fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Thus, potassium is of great value in extracting the energy out of nutrients consumed by man.
Heart and Kidney Disorders: The health benefits of potassium ensure good health for heart as well as kidneys. It plays an irreplaceable role in regulating the functions of potassium. Apart from this, this mineral assists kidneys to remove waste by the process of excretion. However, it is strictly advisable to consult your doctor to get recommendations about dosage.
Water Balance: Potassium has another significant role to play in maintaining the desirable water balance in human body. There are different types of cells, which require having proper water balance for proper functioning and potassium aids these cells in regulating this balance.
Electrolyte: Potassium plays the significant role as an electrolyte in human body. It helps in regulating the level of fluids in human body and thus performs a number of critical body functions.
Nervous System: Potassium helps in boosting the spirit of nerve reflexes to transmit message from one body part to another. This in turn helps in muscle contraction to perform various activities every day.
Main article: Potassium Deficiency (Hypokalemia)
A shortage of potassium in body fluids may cause a potentially fatal condition known as hypokalemia. Hypokalemia is most commonly a result of excessive loss of potassium, typically resulting from prolonged vomiting, diarrhea, the use of some diuretics, some forms of kidney disease, or metabolic disturbances. The symptoms of hypokalemia are related to alterations in membrane potential and cellular metabolism. They include fatigue, muscle weakness and cramps, and intestinal paralysis, which may lead to bloating, constipation, and abdominal pain. Severe hypokalemia may result in muscular paralysis or abnormal heart rhythms (cardiac arrhythmias) that can be fatal.
The use of potassium-wasting diuretics (e.g., thiazide diuretics or furosemide)
Alcoholism
Severe vomiting or diarrhea
Overuse or abuse of laxatives
Anorexia nervosa or bulimia
Magnesium depletion
Congestive heart failure (CHF)
In rare cases, habitual consumption of large amounts of black licorice has resulted in hypokalemia. Licorice contains a compound (i.e., glycyrrhizic acid) with similar physiologic effects to those of aldosterone, a hormone that increases urinary excretion of potassium. Low dietary intakes of potassium do not generally result in hypokalemia. However, research indicates that insufficient dietary potassium increases the risk of a number of chronic diseases.
Main article: Potassium Rich Foods
When most people think of adding potassium rich foods to their diet, they think of eating bananas. While bananas are a great source of potassium, there are plenty of other foods that abundantly rich in potassium, including:
Nuts and seeds
Potatoes
Tomatoes and tomato products
Plantains
Spinach
Raisins, prunes, apricots, dates, and other dried fruits
Molasses
Papayas
Squash
Brussels sprouts
Milk and dairy products
Oranges
Broccoli
Melons and watermelons
Bananas
Strawberries
Cantaloupe
Citrus fruits
Beets
Greens
Mushrooms
Soy products
Veggie burgers
Turkey
Fish
Beef
Salmon
Cod
Legumes: pinto beans, soybeans, lentils, peas and lima beans
Fortified breakfast cereals
100% while grain wheat flour products
Several potassium supplements are on the market, including potassium acetate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium citrate, potassium chloride, and potassium gluconate. Supplements are available in tablets, capsules, effervescent tablets, powders, and liquids.
Potassium can also be found in multivitamins.
Potassium supplements, other than the small amount included in a multivitamin, should be taken only under your doctor’s supervision. Do not give potassium supplements to a child unless your doctor prescribes it.
Adequate intake of potassium from dietary sources are listed below:
Pediatric
Infants birth - 6 months: 400 mg/day
Infants 7 months - 12 months: 700 mg/day
Children 1 -3 years: 3 grams (3,000 mg)/day
Children 4 - 8 years: 3.8 grams (3,800 mg)/day
Children 9 - 17 years: 4.5 grams (4,500 mg)/day
Adult
Adults 18 years and older: 4.7 grams (4,700 mg)/day
Pregnant women: 4.7 grams (4,700 mg)/day
Breastfeeding women: 5.1 grams (5,100 mg)/day
The following doses have been studied in scientific
research:
BY MOUTH:
Potassium supplementation
must be tailored for each person and based on the person’s
serum potassium level, which should be maintained between 3.5-5
mEq/L.
The normal adult daily requirement and usual dietary
intake is 40-80 mEq daily.
For preventing low levels of potassium: 20 mEq is typically taken daily.
For treating low levels of potassium: the common dose of potassium is 40-100 mEq or more daily, in two to four divided amounts.
For treating high levels of calcium: 1 mEq/kg is taken daily or four tablets of Urophos-K are taken twice a day.
For high blood pressure: the typical dose is 48-90 mEq daily.
For preventing stroke: dietary intake of approximately 75 mEq (about 3.5 grams of elemental potassium) daily may reduce risk.
Foods that contain at least 350 mg potassium can be labeled “Diets containing foods that are good sources of potassium and low in sodium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke.”
Intakes of potassium in doses larger than 18 000 mg cause muscular weakness, low blood pressure, mental confusion and eventually heart attack. Potassium injection can be fatal. Lower doses can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
A healthy person cannot obtain toxic levels of potassium from the diet. Causes of potassium excess include insufficient production of adrenal gland hormones, acidosis, major infections, and shock after injury in which potassium leaks out of damaged cells into the blood. In severe kidney disease, potassium is not excreted, and excessive levels build up in the tissue. Having too much potassium in the blood is called hyperkalemia.
Side effects can include diarrhea, stomach irritation, stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, intestinal gas, and other side effects. At higher doses, muscle weakness, slowed heart rate, and abnormal heart rhythm may occur. Contact your health care provider if you develop severe stomach pain, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, or other symptoms.
Potassium is LIKELY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth in amounts of up to 90 mEq of total potassium from the diet and supplements combined.
Too much potassium is UNSAFE and can cause feelings of burning or tingling, generalized weakness, paralysis, listlessness, dizziness, mental confusion, low blood pressure, irregular heart rhythm, and death.
Potassium is LIKELY SAFE when obtained from the diet in amounts of 40-80 mEq per day.
Because of the potential for side effects and interactions with medications, you should take dietary supplements only under the supervision of a knowledgeable health care provider.
Older adults should talk to their doctor before taking potassium supplements.
People with hyperkalemia or kidney disease should not take potassium supplements.
People who take ACE inhibitors, potassium-sparing diuretics, or the antibiotic trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra) should not take potassium.
If you are being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use potassium without first talking to your health care provider.
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors: These drugs, including benazepril, captopril, enalapril, fosinopril, lisinopril, moeexipril, perdinodopril, quinapril, ramipril, trandolapril, may increase the risk of hyperkaleimia.
Angiotensin Receptor Blockers: Increased risk of hyperkalemia.
Potassium Sparing Diuretics: These drugs, including amiloride, triamterene, spironolactone, may increase the risk of hyperkalemia.
Indomethacin: May increase the risk of hyperkalemia.
The following medications may cause potassium levels to rise:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): People who have poor kidney function and take NSAIDs are at higher risk.
ACE inhibitors: These drugs treat high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, some chronic kidney diseases, migraines, and scleroderma. People who take ACE inhibitors and NSAIDs, potassium sparing diuretics, or salt substitutes may be particularly vulnerable to hyperkalemia (too much potassium). A rise in potassium from ACE inhibitors may also be more likely in people with poor kidney function and diabetes. ACE inhibitors include:
Benazepril (Lotensin)
Captopril (Capoten)
Enlapril (Vasotec)
Fosinopril (Monopril)
Lisinopril (Zestril)
Moexipril (Univasc)
Peridopril (Aceon)
Ramipril (Altace)
Trandolapril (Mavik)
Heparin (used for blood clots)
Cyclosporine (used to suppress the immune system)
Trimethoprimand sulfamethoxazole, called Bactrim or Septra (an antibiotic)
Beta-blockers: Used to treat high blood pressure, glaucoma, migraines
Atenolol (Tenormin)
Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL)
Propranolol (Inderal)
The following medications may cause potassium levels to decrease:
Thiazide diuretics
Hydrochlorothiazide
Chlorothiazide (Diuril)
Indapamide (Lozol)
Metolzaone (Zaroxolyn)
Loop diuretics
Furosemide (Lasix)
Bumetanide (Bumex)
Torsemide (Demadex)
Ethacrynic acid (Edecrin)
Corticosteroids
Amphotericin B (Fungizone)
Antacids
Insulin
Fluconazole (Diflucan): Used to treat fungal infections
Theophylline (TheoDur): Used for asthma
Laxatives
If you are taking any of these medications, it is important for your doctor to test your potassium levels to see whether or not you need a supplement. Do not start taking a supplement on your own.
Other potential interactions include:
Digoxin -- Low blood levels of potassium increase the likelihood of toxic effects from digoxin, a medication used to treat abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure. Your doctor will test your potassium levels to make sure they stay normal.
The following reviews have been selected:
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Great for cramps, April 16, 2010
By AT (New York)
I got this because I do a lot of [exercise]. I was always cramping to the point of screaming. I was told Potassium avoids this. I tried bananas, but how long can you eat bananas before you get sick of them? :). So I tried this, I take it a twice a day and no more cramps! I also read that you reduce the chances of heart desease by 60% with these minerals. So it's a win/win.
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Reason for taking: Other
Reviewer: 65-74 Male, 11/17/2010 1:59:19 PM
Comment:
I have end stage renal disease. I suffer from severe cramps in both hands, lower legs and toes, usually occurring during peritoneal dialysis. I use Potassium gluconate 595mg and take 1/2 tablet for each occurrance. The cramping usually stops within 10 minutes of ingestion.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Helps with night time cramps, March 04, 2011
By dean elledge From Kansas
good source of mineral,seems to help with leg cramps. I never get leg cramps when I take this
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Mr, March 31, 2008
By Charles Bentley From Virginia
I take this product to assist with controlling my Gout. I found it to be best in it's class. I found that this form of Potassium (Citrate) helps in alkalizing my body which in turn helps keep Uric Acid soluble for elimination, while helping to protect my renal system (Kidneys)from forming stones associated with high Uric Acid levels
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars To balance sodium and regulate blood pressure, April 18, 2011
From Norway
I have a peculiar problem, which is best described as a double edged sword: I tend to dehydrate but if I eat too much salt, I get high blood pressure. Recently I had to increase sodium, as I got quite ill from dehydration, and predictably my blood pressure went up. ...So I tried to balance it by taking potassium citrate. It worked, very easy absorbtion, good product. Other than in emergency cases as mine, potassium could be sensible to take to avoid deficiency. 99 mg seems a very safe dose to take daily (a banana has approx 425 mg potassium).
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars OTC Remedy for those plagued with kidney stones, September 25, 2011
By Katya Kahler "katesfates" (Lee's Summit, MO)
I ordered these after learning while researching kidney stones online that they can be helpful in preventing the formation of new stones. Some sources (e.g. wikipedia) even claim that existing stones can be dissolved with potassium citrate. I've been taking them for about a month now and that isn't enough time to say if they're going to prevent new stones or dissolve existing ones, but I can say I have not experienced any pain associated with passing a stone during the time I've been taking them.
Additionally, potassium citrate as been described as a "weak diuretic." I find that if I take them late in the evening I always have to urinate during the night, so this must be true, although I would not personally call them "weak" as I've found them nearly as effective for me as thiazide pills. Therefore, you might want to take them early in the day. Take them with meals to avoid stomach upset.
Please note that you should never take potassium in any form if you are taking a potassium sparing diuretic... Doing so can over-elevate your potassium levels which will affect your heart function. They are fine to take with regular diuretics and are often prescribed as a way to restore correct potassium levels in those who take thiazide diuretics. You can read about this and potassium citrate'
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