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What is Potassium Bicarbonate?

Potassium Bicarbonate is an electrolyte used to replenish potassium in people with low blood levels of potassium, to prevent potassium depletion in specific diseases or resulting from specific drug therapies, and to help manage high blood pressure in some people. While potassium depletion or deficiency is a health risk, high to excessive amounts of potassium are also linked with toxicity and health risks. Potassium-containing drugs should be used only under medical supervision because accurate dosing of Potassium Bicarbonate is essential to avoid side effects and toxicity problems associated with overdosing. The potassium available in fruit is both safe and healthful for most people, except for people undergoing treatment with potassium-sparing diuretic drugs and individuals with kidney failure.

Potassium is an essential mineral needed to manage and control water balance, levels of acidity, blood pressure, and neuromuscular function. This mineral is also responsible in the transmission of electrical impulses in the heart. Most fruits are excellent sources of potassium, as well as beans, milk, and vegetables. People with low blood levels of potassium who are undergoing heart surgery are more susceptible to developing heart arrhythmias and an increased need for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Potassium is also necessary for carbohydrate and protein metabolism.

The best way to ensure you have enough or extra potassium is to consume several pieces of fruit per day, as well as liberal amounts of vegetables. The amount of potassium found in the diet ranges from about 2.5 grams to about 5.8 grams per day. The amount common in supplements, which is around 99 mg per tablet or capsule, is very low since a single banana can contain approximately 500 mg. High potassium intake (several hundred milligrams at one time in tablet form) can produce stomach irritation. People using potassium-sparing drugs should avoid using Potassium Bicarbonate-containing products, and should not take potassium supplements, except under the supervision of a doctor. One should not attempt to achieve higher potassium levels by taking large numbers of potassium pills, as concentrated form of potassium such as this can irritate the gastrointestinal tract, a side effect that can be avoided if a large portion of potassium requirements is derived from dietary sources.

What is Potassium Bicarbonate used for and who uses it?

Potassium Bicarbonate is used in preventing or treating low blood potassium levels when the amount of potassium in the diet is inadequate. It may also be used to treat low potassium levels caused by some diseases, severe or prolonged episodes of vomiting or diarrhea, certain medicines (e.g., corticosteroids, diuretics), surgery, or other conditions. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Potassium is of paramount importance in the human body and oral Potassium Bicarbonate is one of the more common means to replenish it. Clinically it is used in the treatment of hypokalemia and related conditions, for digitalis poisoning, and to replenish electrolytes. Abnormally low levels of potassium in the cells can cause what is known as hypokalemia. Hypokalemia can be the result of prolonged vomiting, the use of some diuretics, kidney disease, anorexia, bulimia, or any other condition that might cause the exit of potassium from the body faster than it can be replenished. Fatigue, muscle weakness and cramps, and intestinal paralysis are among some of the symptoms, which may lead to bloating, constipation, and abdominal pain. Severe cases of hypokalemia can lead to muscular paralysis or even fatal cardiac arrhythmias.

Other manifested symptoms of potassium deficiency include constipation, poor appetite, abnormally dry skin, acne, depression, diarrhea, diminished reflex function, edema, nervousness, insatiable thirst, glucose intolerance, growth impairment, high cholesterol levels, insomnia, nausea and vomiting, proteinuria (protein in the urine), respiratory distress, and salt retention. The intake of prescription medicines like aldactone, colchicines, digitalis, ACE-inhibitors, steroids, furosemide and other diuretics, and penicillin, and the abuse of alcohol or laxatives, impairs the body’s ability to absorb potassium. If you are undergoing treatment with any of these medications, have an eating disorder, or are alcohol-dependent, you should consult your physician regarding getting more potassium in your diet and the possibility of incorporating potassium supplements in it.

As a mineral that functions as an electrolyte in the body, transporting nutrients into your cells and carrying wastes out and away from them, it’s critical to have adequate amounts of potassium into your system. Potassium is vital for nerve and muscle functions, can help reduce hypertension and treat allergies, and a deficiency of potassium can lead to hypoglycemia. Because electrolytes are electrically charged (they dissolve in water to form positively charged ions), they can easily bypass cell membranes, and are thus able to transmit electrical messages from the nervous system to the heart and other muscles to ensure regular muscle rhythm and contraction. An optimal potassium-to-sodium ratio helps keep high blood pressure at bay and significantly lessens the risk of stroke. Otherwise known as the membrane potential, this is achieved by having more potassium inside the cells while keeping more sodium outside the cells to enable the body to perform the chemical reactions needed to convert carbohydrates to energy. A normal cell membrane potential is critical for nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, and heart function.

How pure is your Potassium Bicarbonate?

This pharmaceutical grade Potassium Bicarbonate is assayed by the manufacturer as 99.8% pure product (normal range 99.0 to 101.0%). You will receive a double sealed and labeled bulk polyethylene bag containing this white, odorless, crystalline powder product. It contains no fillers, taste additives, or anti-caking agents. The remaining 0.2% by weight are inactive byproducts of the extraction.

Potassium is an important mineral used in various bodily functions. It is a crucial element in keeping the body healthy and optimal acid-base balance and nerve conductions, as well as the movement of nutrients through cell membranes. Potassium is available in a variety of dietary sources, including dairy, fish, and other meats, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Because food processing significantly lowers the amounts of naturally occurring nutrients in foods, supplementation may be necessary to ensure adequate intake.

What is the daily suggested dose of Potassium Bicarbonate?

Accurate dosing of Potassium Bicarbonate is essential to avoid side effects and toxicity problems associated with overdosing, so be very careful and cautious when measuring your bulk powder dose. Volumetric dosing utilizing standardized measuring spoons can be accurate enough for most people; however, not all individuals possess the manual skills and mental acuity to accurately dose bulk powders consistently, so please exercise caution and care when dosing this bulk powder product.

Potassium Bicarbonate comes in pills, powders and gels. Dosage can be a little confusing because products are marked with the amount of elemental potassium or the amount of Potassium Bicarbonate or the milliequivalents (mEq) or all three. To avoid any confusion and for easier comparison, all dosages can be reduced to elemental potassium or mEq (milliequivalents) and be compared at that level. What counts is the elemental Potassium and mEq.

To convert mg of elemental potassium to mEq, take the mg value (whether it is Potassium Gluconate, Potassium Bicarbonate, Potassium Citrate, or Potassium Chloride) and divide it by 39.0983 (atomic weight of potassium). For example, 90 mg is equivalent to 2.30 mEq, 99 mg is equivalent to 2.53 mEq. Conversely, if you know the mEq, multiply by 39.0983 to find the elemental potassium. For example, 2 mEq is equal to 78.0 mg, and so on.

The maximum allowable Over-The-Counter (OTC) dose for elemental potassium is regulated by the FDA to be no more than 100 milligrams (or no more than 2.53 mEq per day), which is the reason why most potassium supplements are designated as containing 99 milligrams elemental potassium per capsule or tablet. Since Potassium Bicarbonate powder is approximately 39.05% elemental potassium, a level 1/32 teaspoon (U.S. Standardized measuring spoon) or about 178 milligrams bulk Potassium Bicarbonate powder will yield an equivalent elemental potassium dose of approximately 69.5 milligrams, well within the FDA mandated dosage. You can see the full bulk density/volumetric conversion chart for Potassium Bicarbonate here. Do not take more than 254 milligrams Potassium Bicarbonate (99 milligrams elemental potassium) in a single dose and do not take more than this amount in any 6 hour interval. Mix it with 8 to 12 ounces water and drink, or take it as directed by your physician.

As always, if you have concerns or questions, consult a physician or a health care professional before taking any supplements. Before taking any kind of medicine, check with your doctor to ensure that the supplement you want to take is right for you. You may be allergic or you may have a sensitive stomach which may raise the need for special instruction as far as dosage goes.

What kind of results do people anticipate while taking Potassium Bicarbonate?

Potassium is an essential mineral needed to regulate water balance, levels of acidity, blood pressure, and neuromuscular function. This mineral also plays a critical role in the transmission of electrical impulses in the heart. People with low blood levels of potassium who are undergoing heart surgery are at an increased risk of developing heart arrhythmias and an increased need for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Potassium is also required for carbohydrate and protein metabolism.

Precautions and Potential side effects of Potassium Bicarbonate

Normally the kidneys remove any excess potassium from the body, so high potassium levels are not an issue for healthy individuals. However if the kidneys fail to remove potassium, as may be the case in kidney disease, a condition called hyperkalemia may result. Hyperkalemia can result in cardiac dysfunction; therefore it is important that individuals with low kidney function, diabetes or heart disease be monitored closely while taking Potassium Bicarbonate. If you are currently supplementing with potassium, or are considering supplementing with potassium, pay careful attention to how much fruit you are eating daily. Fruit contains a high amount of potassium and if you are supplementing with potassium, overdose is also a possibility. Taking too much potassium can result in an upset stomach, flatulence, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and burping. An excessive amount of potassium can result in a heart attack. Diabetics and persons with kidney failure should consult a qualified medical practitioner prior to the use of potassium supplements.

Do NOT use Potassium Bicarbonate if you are allergic to it, if you have elevated blood potassium, an elevated blood acid, severe kidney problems, dehydration, heat cramps, an extensive tissue injury (eg, severe burns), or untreated adrenal gland failure (Addison disease). Additionally, do NOT use Potassium Bicarbonate if you have a blockage of the esophagus, stomach, or intestines, and if you are taking an aldosterone blocker (e.g., eplerenone) or a potassium sparing diuretic (e.g., spironolactone, triamterene).

The information at Purebulk.com is NOT a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not use any dietary supplement as a replacement for conventional care, or as a reason to postpone seeing a doctor about a medical problem. Tell all your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.

Suggested preparation of Potassium Bicarbonate

Potassium Bicarbonate should be taken with meals and with a glass of water or other liquid (between 8 and 16 ounces). This product should not be taken on an empty stomach because of its potential for gastric irritation. Because potassium bicarbonate is a potentially irritant to the stomach if ingested in amounts greater than recommended, caution should be exercised to keep your potassium bicarbonate doses small and frequent rather than large and irregular.

Potassium Bicarbonate is used in the following Proprietary Formulas

Nature's Science Potassium, Solaray Potassium, Absolute Nutrition Watershed, Absolute Nutrition Watershed, Cellucor L2 Extreme, Champion Muscle Nitro, Complete H20 Minerals Sports Blend Electrolite, Country Life Calcium Magnesium Potassium, FSI VO2 Max, Health Direct Nature's Optimal Nutrition, Hot Stuff Nutritionals Up Your Gas, LifeTime Calm & Calmer II, Michael's Water Balance Factors, Millennium Sport Athlytes-ATP, Millennium Sport Cordygen VO2 ULTRA, Muscle Fortress Evaporate, Panthera Pharma Hydronic Razor, PGN Nutrition Once-A-Month, Solaray Spectro Multi-Vita-Min, Trace Minerals Electro-Vita-Min, Trace Minerals Electrolyte Stamina, Zima ZMP Supermax

References & Further Research

Improved Mineral Balance and Skeletal Metabolism in Postmenopausal Women Treated with Potassium Bicarbonate
In normal subjects, a low level of metabolic acidosis and positive acid balance (the production of more acid than is excreted) are typically present and correlate in degree with the amount of endogenous acid produced by the metabolism of foods in ordinary diets abundant in protein. Over a lifetime, the counteraction of retained endogenous acid by base mobilized from the skeleton may contribute to the decrease in bone mass that occurs normally with aging. To test that possibility, we administered potassium bicarbonate to 18 postmenopausal women who were given a constant diet (652 mg [16 mmol] of calcium and 96 g of protein per 60 kg of body weight). The potassium bicarbonate was given orally for 18 days in doses (60 to 120 mmol per day) that nearly completely neutralized the endogenous acid. Overall data indicate that in postmenopausal women, the oral administration of potassium bicarbonate at a dose sufficient to neutralize endogenous acid improves calcium and phosphorus balance, reduces bone resorption, and increases the rate of bone formation.

Potassium bicarbonate, but not sodium bicarbonate, reduces urinary calcium excretion and improves calcium balance in healthy men
Potassium bicarbonate, but not sodium bicarbonate, reduces urinary calcium excretion and improves calcium balance in healthy men. Previous studies demonstrated that the administration of NaHCO3 or sodium citrate had either only a small effect to reduce urinary Ca excretion or no effect, but that potassium citrate significantly reduced urinary Ca excretion. In order to further evaluate and compare the effects of NaHCO3 and of KHCO3, we performed ten metabolic balances in healthy men during 18 control days, 12 days of NaHCO3, 60 mmol/day and 12 days of KHCO3, 60 mmol/day. We conclude that KHCO3 promotes more positive Ca balances by either enhancing renal Ca retention or skeletal Ca retention or both.

Potassium Bicarbonate for International Customers

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