Definition:

◣

◢

Mineraux®Potassium citrate Health Benefits:

Potassium does not occur naturally in its elemental form. It is widely distributed across land and oceans in the form of salts and is a vital component of human muscle and nerve tissue. It participates in carbohydrate, protein and energy metabolism, and serves as the primary cation within cells. It maintains osmotic pressure between intracellular and extracellular fluids, regulating the body's acid-base balance. It sustains neuromuscular excitability and maintains cardiac function; one of the primary drivers of myocardial cell membrane potential changes is the transfer of potassium ions between the intracellular and extracellular spaces. Reduced total body potassium can lead to hypokalaemia, which primarily manifests as muscle weakness and paralysis, arrhythmias, rhabdomyolysis and renal dysfunction. Common causes of hypokalaemia include inadequate dietary intake or excessive loss. Individuals with normal eating habits rarely experience deficiency through diet alone. However, prolonged fasting or reduced food intake due to illness or other factors, combined with the administration of potassium-deficient or potassium-free intravenous fluids, can result in deficiency. Excessive loss can be caused by frequent vomiting, diarrhoea, gastrointestinal drainage, working in high-temperature environments, strenuous physical labour or profuse sweating, all of which can lead to significant potassium depletion. Potassium supplementation can be achieved through dietary supplements.

Mineraux®Potassium citrate is a versatile food additive with certain nutritional properties that is widely employed in the food industry. Its production and use must comply with mainstream global food safety standards, and it plays a crucial role in food processing..

Particularities of Mineraux®Potassium citrate:

Product Specifications:

○

○

Product quality standards:

● USP, BP, EP, GB 1886.74, Food grade, In-house

▶Essential potassium supplementation

Mineraux®Potassium citrate Applications:

Potassium is a macromineral that is essential for the human body and participates in numerous vital physiological processes. As a high-quality source of potassium, potassium citrate provides the body with a gentle potassium supplement. Potassium ions play a vital role in regulating heart rate and maintaining the regularity of myocardial contraction by participating in the depolarisation and repolarisation processes of cardiac muscle cells. Adequate potassium supplementation can help to reduce the risk of arrhythmias caused by hypokalaemia, thereby supporting heart health. Potassium and sodium work together to regulate fluid distribution and electrolyte balance by influencing intracellular and extracellular osmotic pressure. Concurrently, potassium promotes sodium excretion, thereby reducing its retention within the body. This helps to maintain normal blood pressure, in line with the dietary principle of a high potassium and low sodium intake. Potassium ions are crucial mediators in nerve impulse transmission and muscle contraction. Adequate potassium levels ensure proper nerve signal transmission, thereby preventing symptoms such as muscle weakness, cramps and numbness caused by hypokalaemia. This is particularly important for maintaining the function of skeletal and smooth muscles. Potassium also plays a role in carbohydrate and protein metabolism. Acting as an activator for multiple enzymes, potassium promotes energy production and alleviates symptoms such as fatigue and weakness that may result from hypokalaemia.

■ Core features

Mineraux®Manganese gluconate is an ionic organic salt, in which manganese and gluconate ions are bonded together by ionic bonds. The polyhydroxy structure of gluconate reduces binding with phytic acid and tannic acid in the intestine while preventing direct irritation of the gastrointestinal mucosa by manganese ions. This significantly enhances absorption efficiency. Manganese gluconate is highly absorbable and aligns with human metabolic processes. Its absorption rate of elemental manganese reaches approximately 35%-45% (significantly higher than the 15%-20% absorption rate of manganese sulfate), making it two to three times more effective than inorganic manganese salts. Unlike inorganic manganese salts (e.g. manganese sulphate), it does not cause mucosal irritation. Even with long-term supplementation of 1.0 mg of elemental manganese daily, nausea and bloating occur in only 1-2% of cases, making it suitable for individuals with sensitive stomachs, children and the elderly. Manganese gluconate has a mildly sweet taste without any metallic bitterness. It can be added directly to beverages and complementary foods (e.g. children's juices and senior nutritional porridge) without affecting the flavour of the product, which addresses the issue of poor palatability commonly associated with manganese supplements.

The aqueous solution of manganese gluconate is clear and transparent with no precipitation, making it suitable for liquid foods (e.g. sports drinks and oral liquids) and high-temperature processed foods (e.g. baked goods and sterilised milk). It demonstrates strong processing adaptability.

Mineraux®Potassium citrate is available in the following specification and contents:

☑  Mineraux®Potassium citrate 99.0-100.5%

Mineraux®Potassium citrate finds extensive application across multiple segments of the food industry owing to its multifaceted functions, including acidity regulation, chelation, nutritional fortification, and emulsion stabilisation.

In the beverage industry, Mineraux®Potassium citrate is used to regulate the pH of systems, reduce the tartness of fruit juices and improve flavour complexity. It also inhibits polyphenol oxidase activity, preventing juice browning and stabilising colour. By chelating metal ions such as iron and copper, which are present in juices, potassium citrate prevents them from catalysing vitamin C oxidation and degradation, thereby extending the product's shelf life. It balances the sharp acidity of carbonation to improve mouthfeel smoothness and synergises with carbon dioxide to stabilise bubble formation and prevent rapid dissipation. Its mildly alkaline nature neutralises some of the acidity of carbonic acid, thereby reducing the risk of dental erosion. As a potassium supplement, it works alongside electrolytes such as sodium and magnesium to rapidly replenish potassium ions lost through exercise, thereby maintaining fluid balance and neuromuscular function. It regulates beverage osmotic pressure, thereby enhancing the body's absorption of water and nutrients.

In the dairy industry, Mineraux®Potassium citrate is used to regulate the pH of fermentation systems, creating an optimal environment for the growth and reproduction of lactic acid bacteria. This optimises the fermentation process and reduces fermentation time. It prevents calcium ion precipitation in milk, improves yoghurt texture uniformity, and prevents separation and lumps, while enhancing the product's smooth mouthfeel. During the curdling process, potassium citrate participates in pH regulation, aiding the formation of a stable cheese structure. It chelates metal ions, inhibits fat oxidation and extends the shelf life of cheese. Furthermore, potassium citrate improves the emulsification stability of raw materials, prevents fat separation and excessive ice crystal formation, and enhances the product's velvety texture, structural stability and resistance to separation upon melting.

In the baking industry, Mineraux®Potassium citrate regulates dough pH, optimises yeast fermentation conditions, promotes dough expansion, and enhances product fluffiness and texture. It chelates metal ions in flour, inhibits fat oxidation and enzymatic browning, thereby extending the shelf life of baked goods. It can partially replace sodium salts, reducing product sodium content and aligning with health-conscious dietary trends.

■ Production technology characteristics

The production process for potassium citrate currently relies predominantly on chemical synthesis. Natural extraction is only employed in specialised scenarios due to its low yield and high cost.

The core raw materials are citric acid and an alkali source (such as potassium hydroxide or potassium carbonate, both of which must meet food-grade standards), as well as deionised water, which acts as the reaction medium. Certain processes may involve the preparation of antioxidants in advance to prevent side reactions. Citric acid is dissolved in deionised water to form an aqueous solution of a specified concentration. A potassium hydroxide or potassium carbonate solution is then slowly added while stirring. The reaction temperature is maintained between 50 and 70 °C and the system pH is adjusted to between 7.5 and 8.5 to ensure complete reaction. Once the reaction has finished, the hot mixture is filtered to remove any solid impurities or trace precipitates that have not reacted, yielding a clear crude potassium citrate solution. Transfer the clarified solution to an evaporator. Use vacuum evaporation to remove the water until the solution is supersaturated. Next, transfer the solution to a crystalliser and slowly cool it to 20-30°C to promote potassium citrate crystallisation. Some processes incorporate seed crystals to optimise crystal morphology. The crystallised product is then subjected to centrifugal separation to produce a crystalline filter cake. This cake is then washed with a small quantity of cold deionised water to remove surface impurities and any remaining raw materials, thereby enhancing the purity of the crystals. The washed crystals are then transferred to drying equipment. They are dried at 60-80°C in low-humidity conditions until the moisture content meets the required specifications, while avoiding high temperatures that could cause crystal decomposition. Finally, the dried crystals are pulverised and sieved according to market requirements to produce food-grade potassium citrate in various particle sizes.

Mineraux®Potassium citrate solutions are mildly alkaline. When they are metabolised in the human body, their end products help to neutralise certain acidic substances, thereby assisting in the regulation of the body's acid-base equilibrium. This is particularly beneficial for individuals with an acidic constitution resulting from the prolonged consumption of acidic foods such as meat and refined grains, helping to maintain internal environmental stability.

▶ Regulating the body's acid-base balance

Mineraux®Potassium citrate has strong chelating properties. In the gut, it binds with certain harmful heavy metal ions (such as lead and mercury) to form stable complexes. This reduces the absorption of these metals in the intestines, thereby diminishing their potential harm to the body and providing a degree of detoxification support.

▶ Intestinal health

Chemistry name: Potassium 2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate

CAS No.: 866-84-2

EINECS No.: 212-755-5

Chemical formula: C6H5K3O7·H2O

Molecular mass: 324.41 g/mol

The health benefits of Mineraux®Potassium citrate primarily stem from its potassium content and inherent physicochemical properties. These benefits are realised when it is consumed within the dosage limits stipulated by food safety standards through regular dietary intake.

Physical and Chemical Properties: