Potassium, Calcium & Sodium

Potassium, calcium and sodium reference formula at example amounts of 150, 130 and 130 mg per serving, developed as a powder or liquid.

Potassium, Calcium & Sodium is a reference formula for brands building a three-mineral electrolyte product around chloride and calcium salts. The amounts shown (potassium 150 mg, calcium 130 mg, sodium 130 mg) are example amounts taken from one labeled 31 g powder serving, and the brand sets the final amounts for its market.

Powder is the lead format because the three salts blend into a dry stick-pack or tub mix with an acidulant and flavor system, and a liquid concentrate carries the same minerals with a soluble calcium source. The development work centers on salt weight per serving, taste of chloride salts and the calcium source for each format.

Ingredient Composition

IngredientPer ServingRaw Material FormAlternative Form (same amount of active)
Potassium150 mg (example amount)Potassium chloride, specified on elemental potassium contentPotassium citrate or bicarbonate, with the input recalculated to 150 mg of potassium
Calcium130 mg (example amount)Calcium carbonate for powders, specified on elemental calcium contentCalcium citrate for liquids and clear mixes, with the input recalculated to 130 mg of calcium
Sodium130 mg (example amount)Sodium chloride, specified on elemental sodium contentSodium citrate or bicarbonate, with the input recalculated to 130 mg of sodium

Amounts are stated as mg of the element: potassium (K, 39.0983 g/mol; PubChem CID 5462222), calcium (Ca, 40.08 g/mol; CID 5460341) and sodium (Na, 22.9898 g/mol; CID 5360545). Element content by weight of each anhydrous salt follows from its molecular weight: potassium chloride 52.4% (74.55 g/mol), sodium chloride 39.3% (58.44 g/mol), calcium carbonate 40.0% (CID 10112, 100.09 g/mol) and calcium citrate 24.1% (CID 13136, 498.4 g/mol, three calcium atoms per formula unit).

Intended Benefits & Formula Rationale

This formula is designed for products positioned around daily electrolyte mineral intake. Potassium, calcium and sodium are included together so that the three salts, the taste system and the pack can be set as one blend.

Intended Benefit DirectionKey IngredientsFormulation Rationale
Daily calcium intakeCalciumIncluded because the 2011 Institute of Medicine report sets calcium Recommended Dietary Allowances of 700 to 1300 mg per day for ages one year and older, based on skeletal health [1]. Evidence: Referenced
Electrolyte mineral intakePotassium, SodiumA review describes appropriate intake of electrolyte minerals as critical for cardiovascular well-being, with high sodium associated with hypertension, an inverse association for potassium, and open debates on supplemental intake [2]. Evidence: Mixed

The design keeps the three minerals at example amounts so that a brand can move each one independently. The review in [2] reports debates on the effect of supplemental sodium and calcium, so the amounts and the label wording are decisions for the brand and its target market.

Available Formats

The electrolyte reference formula is built for a powder version and a liquid version; pack counts are suggestions that the brand can adjust.

FormatUnitPer ServingPack SizeOther Ingredients (typical)Suitability
Powder1 stick pack (4 g)K 150 mg, Ca 130 mg, Na 130 mg20 or 30 stick packsDextrose or maltodextrin, citric acid, sweetener, flavor, anti-caking agentLead format; dry mix for water
Liquid15 mLK 150 mg, Ca 130 mg, Na 130 mg300 mL bottleWater, acidulant, sweetener, flavor, preservativeConcentrate; needs a calcium source that stays in solution

Raw Material Input & Fill (Design Estimate)

Design estimates. The input is the element amount divided by the element content of each salt, at an assumed 100% assay: potassium chloride 52.4%, sodium chloride 39.3%, calcium carbonate 40.0% (powder) and calcium citrate 24.1% (liquid).

FormatRaw Material Input per UnitDesign FillBalance for ExcipientsVerification Before Scale-Up
PowderKCl 286 mg, NaCl 331 mg, CaCO3 325 mg (942 mg in total)4000 mg per stick3058 mgBlend uniformity, flow, moisture pickup, content assay of each element
LiquidKCl 286 mg, NaCl 331 mg, calcium citrate 539 mg (1156 mg in total) per 15 mL15 mLSolvent and flavor systemSalt solubility, clarity, pH, taste, content assay of each element

A tablet version is not offered, because about 940 mg of salts per serving needs a large tablet or several tablets; capsule and gummy versions are separate projects for the same reason.

Formulation Considerations

Salt weight and taste. Chloride salts taste salty and bitter, and the three salts add about 940 mg of solids per serving. An acidulant, a sweetener and a flavor system are balanced around the minerals, and the dose per serving is checked in taste work before the pack size is fixed.
Calcium source by format. Calcium carbonate is an insoluble, high-yield source at 40.0% calcium and suits dry mixes. A liquid needs a calcium source that stays dissolved, and calcium citrate at 24.1% raises the salt weight to about 539 mg for the same 130 mg of calcium; solubility and pH decide the final choice in sampling.
Moisture in dry mixes. Potassium chloride and sodium chloride are blended with a carrier, so moisture pickup and caking in the stick pack are controlled by the carrier, the anti-caking agent and the pack barrier.
Sodium and potassium amounts. The review in [2] associates high sodium intake with hypertension and reports debates on supplemental intake of the electrolyte minerals. Sodium and potassium amounts per serving are therefore kept as brand-set options, and the dose limit for each sales market is reviewed before a product is developed.

Customization Options

Brands adjust the amount of each mineral, the salt forms, the format and the taste system.

ParameterRangeNote
Potassium per serving70 to 200 mgExample amounts for the brand; salt weight scales with the amount
Calcium per serving72 to 130 mgCalcium carbonate or citrate; input recalculated to elemental calcium
Sodium per serving50 to 130 mgChloride or citrate; set for the sales market
FormatPowder or liquidTablet, capsule and gummy are separate projects
Add-onsMagnesium, vitamin CMagnesium or vitamin C raises the salt load and reshapes the taste plan

The pilot run confirms blend uniformity and moisture behavior of the dry mix, calcium solubility in the liquid, taste balance of the chloride salts, and the content assay of each element in the first units against the labeled amounts.

Flavor Options

FormatSuggested FlavorsWhy
PowderLemon-lime, orange, mixed berryTart citrus and berry profiles soften the salty note of chloride salts
LiquidLemon, orangeAcidic profiles help hold the calcium source and cover the salt taste

Technical Status & Data Sources

ItemStatusDetails
Reference formulaNIH DSLDThe ingredient and amount come from a labeled product in the NIH DSLD (Potassium 150 mg + Calcium 130 mg + Sodium 130 mg on the label of CF048905, a 31 g powder serving; example DSLD label 332125). The label names the three minerals by element; potassium chloride, calcium carbonate and sodium chloride are set as the forms.
SpecificationSet in formulationPotassium chloride, calcium carbonate and sodium chloride, specified on elemental content per serving; assay, particle size and heavy-metal limits and method are fixed with the supplier. Unit size, fill weight and stability are set in formulation.
Data sourceNIH DSLDDSLD v9.4.0, downloaded 2026-01-10: 50,824 reference formulas merged from on-market labels with complete ingredient amounts. Counts show how labels are distributed.
Market reviewPer marketDose limits, labeling and claims are reviewed for each sales market before a finished product is developed.
ReferencesSources[1] Ross AC, Manson JE, Abrams SA, et al. The 2011 report on dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D from the Institute of Medicine: what clinicians need to know. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96(1):53-8. DOI · PubMed<br>[2] Mohammadifard N, Gotay C, Humphries KH, et al. Electrolyte minerals intake and cardiovascular health. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2019;59(15):2375-2385. DOI · PubMed

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