Potassium Chloride Vs. Potassium Citrate

Potassium citrate and potassium chloride are salts. Both can be sources of potassium in the diet.

Identification

Potassium chloride and potassium citrate are both white powders or small crystals. There is no reliable method to visually identify one compound over the other as both can take the same physical states.

Benefits

Potassium is necessary for the normal biological function of the human body. Potassium and sodium are responsible for core nervous system functions by transmitting electrical impulses throughout the body.

Intake

Potassium is normally consumed directly through the intake of potassium chloride, or indirectly via potassium citrate, found in foods. Potassium chloride can be consumed directly via “fake salt,” which uses potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride. Potassium citrate is the form of potassium commonly found in fruits and vegetables.

Warning

Potassium chloride is well known for being the killing agent in legal injections. When injected directly into the bloodstream, potassium chloride causes hyperkalemia, which induces cardiac arrest. You should also not consume excessive amounts of potassium if you have kidney disease or kidney failure.

Kidney Stones

Potassium citrate is commonly used to treat kidney stones. The citrates bind to the calcium in the kidney stone, helping to break it up and making the passing of the stone less painful.