Potassium Citrate vs Potassium Gluconate
How potassium citrate and potassium gluconate differ in elemental content, absorption, tolerance, and cost.
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Side by Side
| Potassium Citrate | Potassium Gluconate | |
|---|---|---|
| Elemental content | 36.2% elemental potassium | 16.7% elemental potassium |
| Absorption | High | High |
| How it is absorbed | Fully soluble and nearly completely absorbed. Citrate is metabolized to bicarbonate, which alkalinizes the urine. | Soluble and well absorbed. Only about one sixth of the compound is potassium, so tablets carry little per gram. |
| Typical dose | 99 mg per OTC capsule; 15-60 mEq daily by prescription | 99 mg per OTC tablet |
| Common uses | kidney stone prevention, general supplementation | general supplementation |
| Side effects | GI irritation at higher doses. | Mild GI upset. |
| Cost | Low | Low |
| Also called | tripotassium citrate | None |
| Labels in index | 188 | 160 |
When to Choose Potassium Citrate
Choose potassium citrate when you want an alkalinizing potassium source or have a history of kidney stones. Prescription extended-release citrate (Urocit-K) prevents calcium oxalate and uric acid stones.
Potassium Citrate
The alkalinizing form, and the prescription choice for stone prevention.
What to look for: As a supplement, 99 mg per capsule with the citrate form named. Prescription extended-release for stones.
Find on iHerb Affiliate linkWhen to Choose Potassium Gluconate
Choose potassium gluconate when you want a mild-tasting OTC form. Absorbed about as well as potassium from potatoes in a controlled feeding comparison cited by NIH.
Potassium Gluconate
Well absorbed and mild, with little potassium per tablet. Fine as a small top-up.
What to look for: 99 mg elemental potassium per tablet stated on the panel.
Find on iHerb Affiliate linkProducts on Titrate
In Titrate's index of NIH label data, 188 labels named as potassium products list potassium citrate and 160 list potassium gluconate.
Potassium does not have its own search category yet. Each product above links to its full label in the NIH database.
Related
References
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Potassium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.
Cook NR, Obarzanek E, Cutler JA, et al. Joint effects of sodium and potassium intake on subsequent cardiovascular disease: the Trials of Hypertension Prevention follow-up study. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(1):32-40.
Aburto NJ, Hanson S, Gutierrez H, Hooper L, Elliott P, Cappuccio FP. Effect of increased potassium intake on cardiovascular risk factors and disease: systematic review and meta-analyses. BMJ. 2013;346:f1378.
Neal B, Wu Y, Feng X, et al. Effect of salt substitution on cardiovascular events and death. N Engl J Med. 2021;385(12):1067-1077.