Potassium

Single-ingredient potassium reference formula at 99 mg of elemental potassium per serving, developed as a tablet or capsule.

Potassium is a reference formula for brands building a single-ingredient mineral product at a default amount of 99 mg of elemental potassium per serving. Potassium is the only active ingredient, and the development work sits with salt weight and tolerability: a mineral that is measured in milligrams of the element needs a few hundred milligrams of salt per unit, and the salt decides the tablet size and the stomach comfort of the finished product.

Tablet is the lead format because 99 mg of potassium from the chloride salt fits one coated tablet, while the capsule version uses a salt blend in a standard fill. The 99 mg default is the single-unit amount that reference labels use for potassium supplements, and the final amount is a brand and market decision.

Ingredient Composition

IngredientPer ServingRaw Material FormAlternative Form (same amount of active)
Potassium99 mg (default amount)Potassium chloride, specified on elemental potassium content; 99 mg potassium per servingPotassium citrate or potassium gluconate, with the input recalculated to 99 mg of elemental potassium

Amounts are stated as mg of elemental potassium (K, 39.0983 g/mol; PubChem CID 5462222). Potassium content by weight follows from the anhydrous molecular weight of each salt: potassium chloride 52.4% (74.55 g/mol), potassium citrate 36.2% (CID 2735208, 324.41 g/mol, three potassium atoms per formula unit) and potassium gluconate 16.7% (CID 16760467, 234.25 g/mol). Hydrate state and assay of the purchased salt are set with the supplier.

Intended Benefits & Formula Rationale

This formula is designed for products positioned around daily potassium intake. Potassium is included as the only active so that the salt, the amount and the unit size can be set without interaction with other actives.

Intended Benefit DirectionKey IngredientsFormulation Rationale
Daily potassium intakePotassiumIncluded because a review of electrolyte minerals reports that dietary potassium has an inverse correlation with cardiovascular events and risk factors, especially blood pressure [1]. Evidence: Referenced
Blood pressure nutritionPotassiumA dose-response meta-analysis of 32 trials found a U-shaped relationship between potassium supplementation and blood pressure, with stronger blood-pressure-lowering effects in people with hypertension and at higher sodium intake, and advised that excessive potassium supplementation should be avoided [2]. Evidence: Mixed

The amount is one stated tier, and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements notes that potassium in supplements is typically limited to 99 mg per unit [3]. Amount, claims and target market are brand decisions reviewed for each sales market.

Available Formats

The potassium reference formula is built for a tablet version and a capsule version; counts per serving are design choices that the brand can adjust.

FormatUnitPer ServingPack SizeOther Ingredients (typical)Suitability
Tablet1 tablet99 mg100 or 200 tabletsCellulose, modified cellulose gum, silica, stearic acid, calcium stearateLead format; coated unit for a chloride salt
Capsule1 capsule99 mg100 or 180 capsulesRice flour or cellulose, flow agent, capsule shellSalt in a standard fill

Raw Material Input & Fill (Design Estimate)

Design estimates. The input is the potassium amount divided by the potassium content of the salt at an assumed 100% assay: potassium chloride at 52.4% gives about 189 mg of salt for 99 mg of potassium, against about 274 mg of potassium citrate and 593 mg of potassium gluconate.

FormatRaw Material Input per UnitDesign FillBalance for ExcipientsVerification Before Scale-Up
Tablet189 mg KCl320 mg tablet weight131 mgHardness, disintegration, coating integrity, content assay of potassium
Capsule189 mg KCl260 mg per capsule71 mgFlow, fill weight variation, moisture, content assay of potassium

Powder, liquid and gummy versions are separate projects, because a dissolving format brings a salty or bitter taste that needs its own flavor and acid system.

Formulation Considerations

Salt weight and unit size. The salt weight for 99 mg of potassium runs from about 189 mg for the chloride to about 593 mg for the gluconate. The chloride keeps units small, and the gluconate or citrate would need a larger tablet or two units.
Chloride salt tolerability. Concentrated chloride salts in a solid unit are an irritation point for some users, so a coated tablet, a moderate load per unit and a pack with directions for use with a meal are considered in the design.
Moisture control. Potassium chloride picks up water in humid conditions, so blending humidity, a barrier coating and a desiccant in the pack are set early to limit caking and tablet softening.
Amount tier. The meta-analysis in [2] describes a U-shaped relationship and warns against excessive supplementation, and the ODS notes the 99 mg convention for supplements [3]. The amount per unit and the number of units per day are set in the market review before a product is developed.

Customization Options

Brands adjust the amount per serving, the potassium salt, the format and the coating.

ParameterRangeNote
Amount per serving98, 99, 100 or 105 mgOptions for the brand; salt weight per unit scales with the tier
Potassium saltChloride, citrate or gluconatePotassium percent differs by salt; the chloride gives the smallest unit
FormatTablet or capsulePowder, liquid and gummy are separate projects
CoatingNone or film coatSets taste, tolerability and moisture protection of the tablet
Add-onsMagnesium, vitamin B6A second active reshapes the unit weight and the specification

The pilot run confirms tablet hardness and coating integrity, capsule fill weight and flow, moisture behavior of the salt, and the content assay of elemental potassium in the first units against the labeled 99 mg.

Technical Status & Data Sources

ItemStatusDetails
Reference formulaNIH DSLDThe ingredient and amount come from a labeled product in the NIH DSLD (99 mg on the label of CF000433; example DSLD labels 2949, 3229, 6406). The label names the ingredient as potassium; potassium chloride is set as the form.
SpecificationSet in formulationPotassium chloride, 99 mg elemental potassium 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] 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<br>[2] 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>[3] NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Potassium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Source

Related products

OEM/ODM Development Inquiry

Essencefield supports custom supplement formulation and OEM/ODM development, including ingredient selection, dosage adjustments, delivery formats, flavors, packaging, and commercial supply. Submit your project requirements below to explore customization options, sample development, and manufacturing solutions tailored to your brand and target market.