Potassium & Sodium

Two-mineral potassium and sodium reference formula with 179.4 mg and 85.8 mg of the elements per serving, developed as a powder.

Potassium & Sodium is a reference formula for brands building an electrolyte premix for powder products, with example amounts of 179.4 mg of potassium and 85.8 mg of sodium per serving. The default label is a 40 g powder serving that also carries 10.3 g of dietary fiber, so the two minerals are the module a brand adds to a fiber or drink base.

Powder is the only format because the premix is blended into a bulk base. The development work centers on the two chloride salts, their salty and bitter taste, and the small weight of the premix compared with the base. The reference labels span a very wide range of amounts, so the amounts are brand decisions set around the example.

Ingredient Composition

IngredientPer ServingRaw Material FormAlternative Form (same amount of active)
Potassium179.4 mg (example amount)Potassium chloride, 342.1 mg per serving (52.4% potassium); specification purity and particle size set with the supplierPotassium citrate, which has a lower potassium share and a milder taste
Sodium85.8 mg (example amount)Sodium chloride, 218.1 mg per serving (39.3% sodium); specification purity and anti-caking agent set with the supplierSodium citrate, which gives a milder taste at the same sodium amount

Amounts are stated as mg of the element. Each raw material weight equals the labeled amount divided by the element share of the salt: potassium chloride KCl at 74.55 g/mol with potassium at 39.10 g/mol PubChem, and sodium chloride NaCl at 58.44 g/mol with sodium at 22.99 g/mol PubChem.

Intended Benefits & Formula Rationale

This formula is designed for products positioned around electrolyte nutrition in powder form. The two minerals are included together because the reference labels carry them together in a powder serving.

Intended Benefit DirectionKey IngredientsFormulation Rationale
Potassium nutritionPotassiumA dose-response meta-analysis of randomized trials found a U-shaped relationship between potassium intake and blood pressure, and concluded that an adequate potassium intake is desirable while excessive supplementation should be avoided [1]. Evidence: Referenced
Sodium intake researchSodiumA review reports that a reduction in dietary sodium decreases blood pressure and the incidence of hypertension, and that a high sodium intake raises blood pressure [2]. Evidence: Contested

Amount, claims and target market are brand decisions reviewed for each sales market, and the sodium amount follows the brand’s electrolyte concept.

Available Formats

The reference formula is built as a powder only, with the serving size taken from the reference label.

FormatUnitPer ServingPack SizeOther Ingredients (typical)Suitability
Powder1 serving of 40 g179.4 mg potassium, 85.8 mg sodium15 or 30 servings in a pouchFiber or drink base, sweetener, flavor, anti-caking agentElectrolyte premix blended into a base

Raw Material Input & Fill (Design Estimate)

Design estimates. The input is the labeled weight of each mineral divided by the element share of its salt, with each salt assumed at 100% purity as purchased; the 40 g serving follows the reference label.

FormatRaw Material Input per UnitDesign FillBalance for ExcipientsVerification Before Scale-Up
Powder342.1 mg potassium chloride, 218.1 mg sodium chloride40000 mg per serving39439.8 mg basePremix uniformity, mineral assays, taste, dispersion

Capsule, tablet and liquid versions are separate projects, because the premix is built around a bulk powder base and a liquid version needs its own solution work.

Formulation Considerations

Premix against a bulk base. The premix weighs under 600 mg in a 40 g serving, so it is made as a pre-blend with part of the base and then added to the bulk, and uniformity is checked for both minerals.
Taste of the chlorides. Potassium chloride tastes bitter and salty, and sodium chloride adds a salty note. The sweetener and flavor system is built around both, and citrate salts are the milder option.
Potassium unit limit. Dietary supplements typically limit potassium to 99 mg per unit [3], so the example amount of 179.4 mg is above that figure and needs a market review, and the review in [1] advises against excessive potassium supplementation.
Evidence and tier. The reviews in [1] and [2] describe potassium and sodium intake in relation to blood pressure and set no dose for a finished product. Dose limit and label wording are reviewed per market, ahead of any product development.

Customization Options

Brands adjust the amount of each mineral, the salts, the base and the flavor.

ParameterRangeNote
Potassium per serving40 to 402.8 mgExamples span low to high electrolyte concepts; amounts above 99 mg need a market review
Sodium per serving75 to 105 mgChanges the salty note and the electrolyte profile
Salt formChloride or citrateChanges the input weight, taste and solubility
BaseFiber or drink mixSets the serving size and the flavor system
Add-onsMagnesium, vitamin CEach add-on raises the premix weight and may change the taste

The pilot run confirms premix uniformity across the bulk, the taste of the finished flavor, and the assay of each mineral in the first units against the specification.

Flavor Options

FormatSuggested FlavorsWhy
PowderLemon-lime, orange, berryCitrus and berry profiles cover the bitter-salty note of the chlorides

Technical Status & Data Sources

ItemStatusDetails
Reference formulaNIH DSLDThe ingredient and amount come from a labeled product in the NIH DSLD (Potassium 179.4 mg + Sodium 85.8 mg on the label of CF002886; example DSLD labels 18887). The label lists potassium and sodium within a powder that also carries dietary fiber; chloride salts are set as the forms.
SpecificationSet in formulationPotassium chloride and sodium chloride supplying the labeled elemental amounts; element content, heavy-metal limits and assay 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] Filippini T, Naska A, Kasdagli MI, et al. Potassium intake and blood pressure: a dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Am Heart Assoc. 2020;9(12):e015719. DOI · PubMed<br>[2] Grillo A, Salvi L, Coruzzi P, Salvi P, Parati G. Sodium intake and hypertension. Nutrients. 2019;11(9):1970. DOI · PubMed<br>[3] National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Potassium: fact sheet for health professionals. Link

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