# Potassium nutrition supplements - difference between gluconate, citrate, aspartate?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potassium-nutrition-supplements-difference-between-gluconate-citrate-aspartate/853649>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 12, 2020, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potassium-nutrition-supplements-difference-between-gluconate-citrate-aspartate/853649 "2020-05-12T16:43:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potassium-nutrition-supplements-difference-between-gluconate-citrate-aspartate/853649/1 "2020-05-12T16:43:59Z")

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There are various potassium supplements sold - potassium chloride, potassium gluconate, potassium citrate, potassium aspartate (all in capsule or tablet form)

Is there any difference in these types when ingested? Presumably they all serve the purpose of raising potassium levels in the body.

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**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2020, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potassium-nutrition-supplements-difference-between-gluconate-citrate-aspartate/853649/2 "2020-05-12T19:01:54Z")

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I don’t know, but my prescription (to offset side effects of my blood pressure med) is potassium chloride. If I could get it in a capsule, I would; it’s a crumbly, uncoated tablet that’s hard to swallow and crumbles instantly while you attempt to do so. It does make a lab-measurable difference in my potassium level.

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2020, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/potassium-nutrition-supplements-difference-between-gluconate-citrate-aspartate/853649/3 "2020-05-13T13:34:34Z")

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Those are all ionic compounds, and will all dissolve quickly in water, separating into ions. In any case, the K+ ions will be identical. Any difference in effect will be due to the effects of the negative ions.

Or to put it another way, consuming both potassium gluconate and sodium chloride would have the same effect as consuming potassium chloride and sodium gluconate.