K citrate lowers BP and increases bone density

[David]

BP was lowered a mean of 7.9 systolic, 6.4 diastolic from potassium
citrate (and these were non-hypertensive women! I'd expect the drop
to be even more significant in someone with hypertension). Bone
mineral density increased in the K-citrate group, but decreased in the
KCl group.

Unfortunately, KCl is the most common prescription potassium
supplement, and non-prescription tablets/capsules are limited by U.S.
law to 99 mg/pill. The dosage in this study was 30 mEq/day of K
Citrate, which amounts to just over 3 grams/day (i.e. over 30 capsules/
day!!).

It is just about impossible to find a potassium citrate in powder
form, but after much searching through Google, I found a source:
www.shfnatural.com

Definitely not a "flashy" website, but I went ahead and ordered from
them anyway. 500 grams of K citrate powder (for 20 bucks) will last
me a long time if I can effectively integrate 3 grams daily into my
diet, perhaps by mixing into juice if the taste is palatable. I'll
let the group know if this works.

Jehle S et al. Partial neutralization of the acidogenic Western diet
with potassium citrate increases bone mass in postmenopausal women
with osteopenia. J Am Soc Nephrol 2006 Nov; 17:3213-22.
PMID: 17035614

Improve Bones and Blood Pressure with Potassium Citrate

Potassium citrate might help reverse the negative effect of the high-
protein Western diet on bone health while also lowering blood
pressure.

Chronic metabolic acidosis has long been suspected to decrease bone
mass. The authors of this study hypothesized that the high-protein
acidogenic Western diet contributes to the pathophysiology of
osteoporosis and that dietary supplementation with alkali in the form
of potassium citrate (Kcitrate) might slow the osteoporotic process.
To examine this hypothesis, they randomized 161 Swiss postmenopausal
women who had low bone mass and had not received any osteoporosis
treatment to receive 30 mEq per day of either Kcitrate or potassium
chloride (KCl; control) for 12 months. Both groups also received
calcium (500 mg/day) and vitamin D (400 IU/day).

Lumbar spine BMD increased progressively and significantly in the
Kcitrate group but decreased in the KCl group, yielding an intergroup
difference of 1.87% (P<0.001) at 12 months. Interestingly, the
Kcitrate group also showed a decrease from baseline in systolic and
diastolic BP of 7.9±1.8 mm Hg and 6.4±1.1 mm Hg, respectively. The KCl
group showed a similar but slightly smaller drop in BP.

Comment: The increase in net lumbar spine BMD observed by these
authors is similar to that reported for raloxifene (see N Engl J Med
1997; 337:1641) but less than that reported for ibandronate (see Bone
1996; 19:527). However, the BP reductions are the first to be reported
in long-term K-supplemented, normotensive individuals. Despite some
weaknesses (no controls for diet, calcium intake, or exercise, and
little ethnic or racial diversity), the study poses an interesting
proposition: Simple, inexpensive supplementation with Kcitrate might
reverse the negative effect of the high-protein Western diet on bone
health while also improving BP. This strategy certainly deserves
further study.

- Wendy S. Biggs, MD

Published in Journal Watch Women's Health January 11, 2007

[Paul Antonik Wakfer]

Hi David,

Thanks for posting this.
I guess that I will need to change over from my very cheap and simple
approach to potassium supplementation using KCl water softener. Oh
well :(

--Paul