Hi all,
I have recently come across a 2006 study which showed that supplementary Potassium citrate increased bone density in postmenopausal women.
Check this:
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/Potassium-citrate-supplements- linked-to-thicker-bones
The results were modest but nevertheless quite impressive I thought, and seem to provide experimental evidence that acidity is indeed a major culprit in bone loss. Has anyone else heard of potassium citrate and does anyone else take this supplement?
I'm a 47 year old woman (perimenopausal) with lumbar spine T-2.7. I am considering taking Strontium Citrate but until I do thought I would first experiment with supplemental Potassium Citrate (in addition to my alkaline diet, prunes, Vit D, Calcium, Magnesium, Vit K2, and exercise) as it seems closer to a natural food than Strontium in large amounts does. Apparently we should be ingesting 4-5000mg of potassium daily and it appears that people on the SAD (standard American/Australian diet) don't take in anywhere near this amount. Apparently even on the alkaline diet you would probably need to eat 10 serves of vegetables a day to achieve the levels of potassium they used in this experiment. I don't know about you but I know I realistically can't eat that much veg every single day.
What do others think?
Youngbones
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Potassium citrate
- By Youngbones
- Posted August 26, 2009 at 8:28 pm · 9 replies
- In Vitamins and supplements
- Shared with the public
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- By lilrayosun
- Posted October 8, 2009 at 12:57 pm
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Hey, Youngbones!
I just stumbled across this same study today. Very interesting. I liked this quote:
"At the end of the study, women taking the potassium citrate supplement are reported to have a significant, one per cent increase in BMD in the vertebrae of the lower back (lumbar spine), compared to baseline."
It warns that those taking potassium chloride supplements LOST density in the spine.
It's worth a shot. I've been trying to figure out how I can keep my acidity down after exercise. I'm working at a level where I have a lot of lactic acid in my system. Maybe taking the Potassium Citrate after strenuous workouts would help.
Do any of our experts have any ideas about this? Anyone else ever try this stuff?
Thanks,
Raye
- By lilrayosun
- Posted October 8, 2009 at 12:59 pm
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And another quote re: the study:
"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"
- By Youngbones
- Posted October 8, 2009 at 8:11 pm
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Hi Lilrayosun,
Thanks for your comments. Glad to know I'm not the only one out here who has noticed and is interested in this research. I started taking Kcitrate about a month ago. I can't get it here in Australia so I ordered it from the US over the internet from Vitacost. Its fairly inexpensive.
The label on the bottle recommends approx 500mg as the daily dose but my reading of the studies we've been discussing is that they administered a dose of 3.24grams daily which sounds like a lot.
My doctors don't seem to know anything about any of this and can't advise me what is a safe level so I have decided to be conservative and to take about half of the amount used in the study (around 1600mg) and hope it works. Of course (unlike the study participants) I will also try to combine it with as alkaline a diet as I can achieve. So far I feel fine and have no noticeable side effects.
I also noticed another recent prospective study a while back that seemed to be recruiting women to try several dosages of Kcitrate to see what was most effective. Hopefully that will be a better guide when the results are known.
Regards,
Youngbones
- By PikaB
- Posted October 9, 2009 at 7:53 am
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That study used a special prescription form of potassium citrate in a wax matrix tablet (Urocit-K) designed to dissolve slowly in the intestines. If it dissolved in the stomach it would have been neutralized by stomach acid. If it touched the intestines while dissolving it could cause intestinal ulcers. The special wax matrix tablet keeps the potassium citrate away from the intestinal walls while the tablet is dissolving.
So don't think that taking an ordinary potassium citrate supplement would work for this.
There have been other studies, with negative results. For example, the study at
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18689384
showed no bone benefit from potassium citrate supplementation.
- By SantaFe
- Posted October 9, 2009 at 10:48 am
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I wonder if what the study is really pointing to---is that the potassium raised the alkaline level enough to decrease the acid's effect on bones. That's what it seems to be saying, unless I misread it. If so, then monitoring our body's alkaline level should have same effect. There was a woman who doesn't post here much anymore but had a significant increase in bone density just form the alkaline diet her doctors put her on.
Warmly, Santa Fe
- By Jacqueline
- Posted October 9, 2009 at 11:59 am
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Acorn squash has a large amount of potassium,
and I try to eat it often. I simply put the squash in the
oven until it softens, then add butter and pumpkin pie
seasoning.
Jacqueline
- By Youngbones
- Posted October 9, 2009 at 8:05 pm
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Hi PikaB,
Many thanks for your closer reading of the study - much appreciated. You have saved me an unnecessary amount of tablet swallowing from the sounds of things!
The other study you referred to looks interesting in terms of the acid/alkaline theory as well - casting some doubt on it as the mechanism for increasing BMD. Looks like we are still a long way from unlocking all the secrets of Osteoporosis preventions via dietary intake.
Cheers,
Youngbones
- By blondie50
- Posted October 9, 2009 at 9:24 pm
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If you are looking to alkalize your body, try pH Basic by Enzymedia. They include a few test strips to test your urine to see how acidic it really is. It works wonders. Take a capsule on an empty stomach before bed and your aches will diminish a lot. You can also purchase test strips at your local health food store in advance to see if you need to alkalize. Another way to help alkalize your body (and less expensively too) is to take 1-2T apple cider vinegar.
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