Potassium Chloride

Potassium Chloride: Potassium for Preventing Dehydration and Muscle Weakness

Potassium is a vital mineral that plays an essential role in nerve function, muscle contractions, and fluid balance at the cellular level—especially during exercise when the body loses fluids through sweat. Low potassium levels can lead to muscle weakness, irregular heartbeats, or cramps.

In our formula, we use Potassium Chloride (KCl) as the primary source of potassium due to its high bioavailability, safety, and efficient absorption—qualities that align with modern sports nutrition guidelines.

How Potassium Chloride Works

Potassium works closely with sodium to maintain electrolyte balance across cell membranes—sodium resides outside cells, while potassium is concentrated inside. This balance is critical for nerve transmission and muscle function.

Potassium Chloride is highly absorbable and provides a high concentration of potassium per serving. Compared to alternatives like Potassium Bicarbonate or Potassium Gluconate, it offers several advantages for sports drinks and supplements:

• Delivers a higher amount of net potassium per dose, meaning more usable potassium for the same serving size.
• Highly water-soluble and stable, ideal for electrolyte beverages with no sedimentation or degradation.
• Often used as a salt substitute in diets that limit sodium, offering a salty taste without increasing sodium intake (Institute of Medicine, 2005).

Key Benefits of Potassium Chloride

1. Supports Electrolyte and Fluid Balance
   Potassium regulates the electrical gradient between the inside and outside of cells, crucial for maintaining osmotic pressure and nutrient absorption (Gonzalez et al., 2016).
2. Promotes Muscle and Heart Function
   Potassium deficiency is a known cause of exercise-induced cramps and arrhythmias, especially in high-sweat conditions. Potassium Chloride effectively restores depleted potassium levels (Sawka et al., 2007).
3. Helps Lower Blood Pressure Risk
   Despite containing chloride, potassium itself supports healthy blood pressure by encouraging sodium excretion through the kidneys and promoting blood vessel relaxation (Whelton et al., 1997).

Why We Chose Potassium Chloride

We specifically chose Potassium Chloride to provide an optimal electrolyte balance in our formula. It delivers highly bioavailable potassium without causing gastrointestinal discomfort and works well with other ingredients in our blend. Athletes can benefit from quick potassium replenishment to support endurance and performance.

Usage Recommendation

According to the Institute of Medicine, the recommended daily intake of potassium is 3,400 mg for men and 2,600 mg for women. On days of intense physical activity, consuming potassium through both food and supplements helps maintain mineral balance and supports prolonged physical performance.

References

• Institute of Medicine. (2005). Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate.
• Gonzalez, J. T., Fuchs, C. J., Betts, J. A., & van Loon, L. J. (2016). Post-exercise muscle glycogen resynthesis in humans. Eur J Sport Sci, 16(7), 773–783.
• Sawka, M. N., et al. (2007). ACSM Position Stand: Exercise and fluid replacement. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 39(2), 377–390.
• Whelton, P. K., et al. (1997). Effects of oral potassium on blood pressure: meta-analysis of RCTs. JAMA, 277(20), 1624–1632.