Potassium citrate studies: I’m just... - Restless Legs Syn...

Restless Legs Syndrome

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Potassium citrate studies

LeyaBlu3 profile image
14 Replies

I’m just gonna leave this here

medcraveonline.com/PPIJ/PPI...

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LeyaBlu3 profile image
LeyaBlu3
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ironbrain profile image
ironbrain

Interesting. I've been taking it to make sure any leg cramps I get aren't an electrolyte problem. If we get a 100mg tablet/capsule strength limit slapped on us in the UK, maybe we RLS sufferers have got more chance of getting some from the docs.

[People should know that the body requires 4.7 grams of potassium a day and that it is lethal in overdose – I didn't read the whole paper, so I don't know if it said that there.]

LeyaBlu3 profile image
LeyaBlu3

The body needs between 3.500mg to 4.700mg daily. The study said subjects were given 1080 mg of Potassium Citrate daily for 45 days.

You can get a higher dose of potassium citrate here in the UK, It’s in a liquid form normally used to treat mild urine infections one 5ml spoon is the equivalent to 1.500mg of potassium.

I do urge anyone who wants to try potassium citrate to research for themselves or ask a doctor. sometimes RLS is caused by an underlying condition. like you said dangers of an over dose can be lethal.

ironbrain profile image
ironbrain in reply to LeyaBlu3

This is how I bought my last lot, what I'm using currently:

ebay.co.uk/itm/183468707936

It's probably the monohydrate (has one water molecule of association) of tripotassium citrate: K₃C₆H₅O₇·H₂O

It being the monhydrate, the percentage potassium content will be lower than the 38.28% given on Wikipedia.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potas...

It being "highly hygroscopic" means that it tends to form hardish lumps even when in sealed packaging which need to be crushed with some kitchen utensil to get something you can sprinkle on your food.

The quarter teaspoon use recommended on the package is a lower dose (consistent with about 100mg, I think) than will have been used in the trial in the paper. Get professional advice on how much you might want to consider taking.

[Incidentally: it does nothing for my RLS!]

LanaCSR profile image
LanaCSR in reply to ironbrain

Well, if you are only taking 100 mg when the study says participants took 1080 mg daily, it's no wonder it isn't helping your RLS. You need to take MUCH, MUCH more.

ironbrain profile image
ironbrain in reply to LanaCSR

I take one scoopful with one of the little scoops that often come with products like these. I think it's about the same as a slightly rounded teaspoon which is somewhere around 5 grams.

The formula for tripotassium citrate monohydrate is: K₃C₆H₅O₇·H₂O

The atomic weight of potassium is 39, of carbon 12, of hydrogen 1 and of oxygen it is 16. So the molecular weight of tripotassium citrate monohydrate is:

3x39 + 6x12 + 7x1 + 8x16 = 324

So the percentage of potassium in tripotassium citrate monohydrate is 36.11% [3x39 (117) divided by 324 and multiplied by 100], slightly lower than the figure on Wikipedia as I explained above.

Therefore, if I take 5 grams of tripotassium citrate monohydrate, I'm taking 1.81 grams (1810 mg) of elemental potassium. A quarter-teaspoon would be 0.45 grams (451 mg) of elemental potassium [over four times more than I postulated above].

I also eat a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, oats and fish with some poultry and dairy products and a little meat.

[And if Mr Trump thinks I want to go traipsing into the docs paying a fee to have a prescription written (if I'm lucky), you can guess whose health system I'd like to veto!]

KenBR profile image
KenBR

Read over the study, very interesting, thanks LeyaBlu3.

Curious if there was a follow up to see how long the positive effects

lasted.

Joolsg profile image
Joolsg

Thanks for posting. Let’s hope some follow up studies are done soon.

Off to buy some potassium citrate supplements....

LanaCSR profile image
LanaCSR

How about this? Looks like you get the exact amount that the study used. I found it on Amazon.

Kidney Health | Water Enhancer | LithoLyte® 10 mEq, Developed by Urologists 1 Pack (60 Sticks) amazon.com/dp/B07B44XZK3/re...

LeyaBlu3 profile image
LeyaBlu3 in reply to LanaCSR

Looks good. I hope it helps you 😊

Joolsg profile image
Joolsg in reply to LanaCSR

Sadly this seller doesn’t ship to here. USA sales only. I’ll try to find similar for the UK.

LanaCSR profile image
LanaCSR

Me too!! Thank you for posting this study for us!!!

LeyaBlu3 profile image
LeyaBlu3 in reply to LanaCSR

You’re welcome

KenBR profile image
KenBR

I emailed one of the authors of the study.

And he replied back, today!

I asked:

1. Did RSL symptoms return after the potassium citrate was

stopped at 45 days? He said YES, the symptoms returned.

2. Can a person take 10 meq of potassium citrate everyday

forever? To keep symptoms at bay? He said...NOT SURE.

Bilal01 profile image
Bilal01 in reply to KenBR

Hey brother...What can we do after 45 days??? Does we need to stop potassium citrate or continue and if need to take after 45 days and how much qty???

Your symptoms are returned?? And can you give me email id of authors and also yours....

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