Minerals play a critical role in how your body functions. A deficiency in any essential mineral can create an imbalance that can affect your entire system. Potassium is such a mineral. If you have a potassium deficiency, selecting a potassium supplement is an important consideration. While you will find several different types of potassium supplements on the market, you want to take a supplement that will allow your body to properly and efficiently absorb the potassium into your system. Potassium chelate is a type of potassium supplement that might work well if you have not found success with other types of potassium supplements. You should speak with a medical professional prior to taking potassium chelate.
The Basics
Your cells, organs and tissues depend on potassium to maintain optimal function. Potassium is also an electrolyte that conducts electricity in your body. Your circulatory, skeletal, muscular and digestive systems all rely on potassium for smooth contractions. One of the causes of irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is the irregular contraction of the stomach muscles, resulting in diarrhea, constipation and an upset stomach. Potassium supplements can often improve some of the symptoms associated with IBS.
Chelated Potassium
Chelated potassium is a type of potassium supplement that attaches the mineral potassium to another compound. This other compound purportedly helps with the absorption of the potassium by helping to hold the potassium together in your digestive system. Your body has a difficult time absorbing potassium supplements. With many potassium supplements, the mineral breaks down in your digestive system and is excreted from your body through waste. Clinical evidence, however, does not support the claim that your body has an easier time absorbing chelated potassium than other types of potassium supplements.
Hypokalemia
Doctors typically recommend potassium chelate to treat hypokalemia, or low potassium blood levels. You can develop hypokalemia from either a potassium deficiency in your diet or another medical condition that causes your body to lose excess amounts of potassium. Hypokalemia is a very serious condition that in extreme cases can cause death. Symptoms of a potassium deficiency include muscle cramps, weakness, a general lack of energy, irregular heartbeat and stomach problems. If you suspect a potassium deficiency, you should consult a medical professional as soon as possible.
Warnings
You should not take chelated potassium supplements with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and ACE inhibitors due to a possible interaction between the drugs. Additionally, high doses of potassium chelate can cause an adverse reaction that includes muscle weakness, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, slowed heart rate, abnormal heart rhythm and stomach pain. The Food and Drug Administration's total recommended daily intake of potassium from all food and supplement sources is 4,700 mg for adults. You should speak to a medical professional before talking potassium chelate.
References
- "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Potassium but Were Too Tired to Ask"; Betty Kamen; 1992
- "Potassium Channels: Methods and Protocols"; Jonathan Lippiat; 2008
- "Potassium: Chemical Elements That Make Life Possible"; Jean Blashfield; 2001
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