Potassium, 120 capsules

Potassium: There are several similar products to choose from – which one should I go for?

Potassium: What are the legal regulations and limit values?

Potassium: How much does an average daily portion cost, and how does it compare?

Potassium: You have several similar products to choose from – which one should I go for?

Our potassium products differ in terms of active ingredient and dosage.

This product is available in capsules or loose in a bag.

Potassium citrate 60 capsules from Echt Vital

• One capsule contains 252 mg of potassium.
• Theactive ingredient is potassium citrate. Citrates are easily absorbed and can be taken up very effectively, even in the presence of health conditions.

Potassium citrate 500 g powder in a sachet from Echt Vital

• The active ingredient is the same as in the capsules.
• However, the capsules are much easier to dose; the powder is only recommended for people who have a precision scale or do not mind the taste.
• Naturally, capsules are much easier to take over the long term without developing an aversion to them, compared to a strongly flavoured powder.

Potassium from potassium citrate, 60 capsules from Nature Power

• One capsule contains 150 mg of potassium.
• The active ingredient is the same as in the Echt Vital product.

Potassium from potassium citrate and potassium chloride, 120 capsules from Podomedi

• One capsule contains 325 mg of potassium.
• The two active ingredients are a citrate and a chloride.
• Chloride has the advantage of being absorbed more quickly.

Conclusion

• If you want the potassium to take effect quickly, Podomedi is the better choice. However, for most situations, this effect is not particularly significant; pure potassium citrate supplements are usually just as effective.
• A significant difference lies in the capsule size. Podomedi is more convenient if you want to take a large dose without having to swallow lots of capsules.
• Nature Power is suitable for very small doses, e.g. for children.

Potassium: What are the legal regulations and limit values?

According to the LMIV (Food Information Regulation), the Nutrient Reference Value ( NRV) for potassium is 2000 mg per day.

This figure dates from 2011 and is scientifically outdated. Unfortunately, as an online shop, we are bound by this value for legal reasons and must use it as such.

The German Nutrition Society (DGE) recommends a daily intake of 4,000 mg of potassium for healthy adults in Germany and Austria. This value has been in force since 2016.

The upper limit is the amount of a nutrient that can be consumed daily over a long period without causing harm to the body.
The EFSA has not yet set a limit for the EU.
Since 2020, Switzerland has stipulated a maximum daily intake of 2,250 mg from food supplements.

It should be noted that genuine potassium deficiencies are actually rare. It is found in large quantities in fruit and vegetables, for example.
A potassium deficiency, where potassium supplementation would be required, therefore only occurs either in cases of extreme health conditions – which a doctor can identify through laboratory tests – or in cases of extreme dietary habits, such as a diet containing very little or absolutely no fruit and vegetables.
We can therefore endorse the cautious Swiss recommendation. It is best to consult your doctor or ask for a copy of your laboratory report.

Potassium: How much does an average daily intake cost, and how does it compare?

Analysing the daily dose

According to the EU regulation that applies to food supplements, the NRV value – which is roughly based on the daily requirement for a substance – is 2 g of potassium per day.
This regulation from 2011 is scientifically outdated; today, the recommended daily intake is 4 g of potassium per day.
As a retailer, we are obliged to comply with the outdated EU regulation, even if the data is incorrect or out of date. Therefore, the price below is for 2 mg of potassium per day.

Cost for 2,000 mg of potassium per day

We stock several products that are primarily composed of potassium:

Conclusion

Potassium from Echt Vital is good value for money. Capsules make a lot of sense, for example for older people who pre-pack their medication into pill organisers. Or for people who need to take something for a very long time and want to avoid the problem of developing an aversion to strong-tasting substances sooner or later.
However, for those who aren’t bothered by any of this and who are mentally, physically (handling very small quantities) and technically (using a precision scale) capable of measuring out powder safely, loose powder is the most cost-effective option.

Depending on the situation, Podomedi may also be a better option, given its very fast-acting formula.

Nature Power Potassium has the advantage of being better suited to people who are only supposed to take small amounts. We also have a regular clientele who generally swear by Nature Power.