The mineral potassium can be found in every cell of your body and plays a critical role in regulating your body's electrical current. Without potassium, your heartbeat and your muscle contractions would both rapidly decline. While your body naturally balances and regulates potassium production, some people have innate potassium deficiencies that must be addressed with a potassium supplement.
The ACTIVE Reviews Team has explored some of the best potassium supplements on the market today. Here are a few of our top recommendations.
Why Trust Us?
The health and safety of ACTIVE's readers is of the utmost importance to us. To ensure your well-being when consuming dietary supplements, the ACTIVE.com editorial team prioritizes products that are independently tested by a third party. We've consulted with a team of nutritionists and dieticians to ensure the products we feature are of the highest standard. This helps us create the most accurate, authentic review content for our readers.
The Best Potassium Supplements - Our Top Picks
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- NOW Supplements, Potassium Citrate 99 mg
- Bulk Supplements Potassium Chloride
- SMART FOR LIFE Potassium Magnesium Supplement
- Best Naturals Potassium Gluconate Supplement
- NOW Supplements, Potassium Iodide 30 mg
- Bulk Supplements Potassium Bicarbonate
- HOLLEGEND Potassium Magnesium Gummies
- Trace Minerals Research Liquid Ionic Potassium Supplement
NOW Supplements Potassium Citrate
SPECS
- Price: $
- Type: Capsules
The NOW Supplements Potassium Citrate come at a sensational value, offering 180 unflavored capsules for under $10. And note that they're well-credentialed as kosher, soy-free, vegan, nut-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, and egg-free.
What We Like
- Modest price point
- Gluten-, dairy-, and soy-free
- Made in the U.S.
What We Don't Like
- May need to take as many as five capsules a day
- Not for kids or for those who regularly take diuretics
BUY: NOW Supplements Potassium Citrate
Bulk Supplements Potassium Chloride
SPECS
- Price: $
- Type: Powder
For a dissolvable powder-based supplement, try Bulk Supplements’ Potassium Chloride. Made with a generous 105 milligrams of potassium per serving, this powder is free of sugar, gluten, and additives.
What We Like
- Modest price point
- Generous dose of potassium
- No sugar, soy, dairy, or yeast
What We Don't Like
- Powder may not be as convenient or portable
- Powder can be difficult to dose precisely
BUY: Bulk Supplements Potassium Chloride
SMART FOR LIFE Potassium Magnesium Supplement
SPECS
- Price: $
- Type: Capsules
The SMART FOR LIFE Potassium Magnesium Supplement offers you 90 vegan capsules, each one containing a well-balanced portion of potassium and magnesium. These high-quality ingredients work together to promote muscular and nervous health and may also relieve migraines and support gut health.
What We Like
- Includes magnesium
- Vegan capsules
- Doctor-designed formula
What We Don't Like
- Not for kids or for those who regularly take diuretics
- 2-capsule serving size
BUY: SMART FOR LIFE Potassium Magnesium Supplement
Best Naturals Potassium Gluconate Supplement
SPECS
- Price: $
- Type: Tablets
Talk about value: The Best Naturals Potassium Gluconate Supplement offers a staggering 595 milligrams of potassium in every serving and boasts 250 capsules in total—all for under $10. For icing on the cake, these capsules are rigorously third-party tested for quality and purity and they're devoid of a long list of allergens, including gluten.
What We Like
- Allergy-friendly and non-GMO
- Huge doses of potassium in every capsule
- Major value—over 8 months’ supply per bottle
What We Don't Like
- Not for kids or for those who regularly take diuretics
- High dose of potassium—not a good fit for everyone
BUY: Best Naturals Potassium Gluconate Supplement
NOW Supplements Potassium Iodide 30 mg
SPECS
- Price: $
- Type: Tablets
The NOW Supplements Potassium Iodide offers a modest dose of potassium in a small, unflavored tablet. These tablets are proudly produced by a long-running family business and boast a reputation for quality and purity. This is a great product at a reasonable price.
What We Like
- Good for those seeking a modest potassium boost
- Vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free
- No artificial ingredients or additives
What We Don't Like
- 3-tablet serving size
- For short-term use only in this form
BUY: NOW Supplements Potassium Iodide 30 mg
Bulk Supplements Potassium Bicarbonate
SPECS
- Price: $
- Type: Powder
A great option for anyone who prefers dissolvable powder-based supplements, the Bulk Supplements Potassium Bicarbonate is an excellent boost for electrolyte production, heart health, and nervous system function. This stuff is very pure: Other than potassium, there are no other ingredients added.
What We Like
- Modest price point
- Generous dose of potassium
- No additional ingredients
What We Don't Like
- Powder may not be quite as convenient or portable
- Powder can be difficult to dose with precision
BUY: Bulk Supplements Potassium Bicarbonate
HOLLEGEND Potassium Magnesium Gummies
SPECS
- Price: $
- Type: Gummies
Gummies can be a great way to bolster your potassium. Not only are they convenient and portable, but they're also easy to dose with precision. Though slightly pricier than capsules and powders, the HOLLEGEND Potassium Magnesium Gummies offer outstanding value, providing high-quality magnesium and potassium with all-vegan ingredients and minimal sugar content. They taste good, too!
What We Like
- Convenient and easy to dose
- Contain magnesium as well as potassium
- Vegan and non-GMO
- Allergy-friendly
What We Don't Like
- Minimal sugar content
- Slightly higher price point
BUY: HOLLEGEND Potassium Magnesium Gummies
Trace Minerals Research Liquid Ionic Potassium Supplement
SPECS
- Price: $
- Type: Liquid
The Trace Minerals Research Liquid Ionic Potassium Supplement is our pick for those who prefer their supplements to come from a dropper. Made to be unflavored, these drops are designated for improved heart and muscle health. The dropper makes dosing pretty easy, allowing you to seamlessly integrate potassium with a beverage, smoothie, or even your morning cereal.
What We Like
- 3rd party-tested, vegan, cGMP-certified, gluten-free, non-GMO
- Works well with smoothies and drinks
- Contains other added minerals
What We Don't Like
- Has a mineral taste if taken in plain water
- Recommended to be taken with a meal
BUY: Trace Minerals Research Liquid Ionic Potassium Supplement
Benefits of Potassium Supplements
Potassium helps regulate electrical currents and water content throughout your body. As such, enhancing your diet with a regular potassium supplement may yield a number of benefits, including:
- Improved nerve health and functionality
- Healthier muscle contractions and improved muscle recovery
- Proper kidney function
- Lowered risk of cardiovascular problems
Who Should Take Potassium Supplements?
Among healthy people with normal kidney functionality, potassium deficiencies are pretty rare. However, there are certain things that can diminish your potassium levels, including:
- Diarrhea or vomiting
- Regular use of diuretics
- Overuse of laxatives
- Heavy sweating
- Dialysis
- Adhering to a keto diet
Additionally, potassium supplements can be highly beneficial for those with kidney disorders or intestinal blockages.
Types of Potassium Supplements
Most dietary supplements contain potassium salts, while minerals and multivitamins usually contain up to 80 milligrams of potassium. A direct potassium supplement can include closer to 100 milligrams of potassium. Different supplements will enhance your natural potassium levels to varying degrees, so always check the packaging and also consult with your doctor to determine how much additional potassium you require.
Potential Side Effects of Potassium
Any time you take a dietary supplement, it's important to be aware of potential side effects and potassium supplements are no different. Some of the most common side effects to be aware of include minor digestive upset, such as nausea or gas. For those who already have compromised kidney health, elevated potassium levels can cause more serious side effects, including the potential for muscle weakness, paralysis, and heart palpitations.
FAQs About Potassium Supplements
Should I take a potassium supplement every day?
Ideally, you can attain healthy potassium levels with dietary changes. If you already suffer from hypokalemia, however, then your doctor may recommend that you take a potassium supplement daily.
Are potassium supplements worth it?
If your doctor has recommended you use supplements to increase your potassium level, then investing in the right type of supplements can absolutely be worth it.
Should I take potassium supplements in the morning or night?
The most important thing is to take your potassium supplements with a meal, with a bedtime snack, or within 30 minutes of finishing a meal. Whether you take potassium in the morning or at night is less consequential.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
About the Author
Josh is a journalist and writer whose work has appeared in magazines and local newspapers such as Christianity Today, IMAGE Journal, Relevant Magazine, FLOOD, The Nashville Scene, True Tunes, Rise Up Daily, and Looking Closer with Jeffrey Overstreet. Josh is an avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast.
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