Potassium citrate and bone mass in postmenopausal women
What it found
In postmenopausal women with low bone mass, taking potassium citrate for 12 months increased bone mineral density at the spine, hip and femoral neck compared with potassium chloride.
The trial was in people.
What they found
Studies in people
Bone density at spine
Women taking potassium citrate had an increase in bone mineral density at the lumbar spine of 1.87 +/- 0.50% compared with those taking potassium chloride. The potassium citrate group also increased spine bone density from the start of the study, reaching 0.89 +/- 0.30% at 12 months, while the potassium chloride group decreased by -0.98 +/- 0.38%.
Bone density at hip
Compared with the potassium chloride group, women taking potassium citrate had an increase in bone mineral density of 1.39 +/- 0.48% at the femoral neck and 1.98 +/- 0.51% at the total hip.
Other bone sites
There was no significant difference between groups in bone mineral density at the distal radius or for the total body.
Urine calcium and citrate
The potassium citrate group had a sustained and significant reduction in calcium excreted in urine and a significant increase in citrate excreted in urine. The increased citrate excretion suggested sustained alkalization in the body.
Bone breakdown markers
Urinary markers of bone resorption were significantly reduced by potassium citrate. For deoxypyridinoline, the difference between groups was significant.
Blood pressure
Large and significant reductions in blood pressure were seen in both potassium supplement groups throughout the 12 months.
What the authors conclude
“Bone mass can be increased significantly in postmenopausal women with osteopenia by increasing their daily alkali intake as citrate, and the effect is independent of reported skeletal effects of K.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that bone mass can be increased significantly in postmenopausal women with osteopenia by increasing their daily alkali intake as citrate.
- They state that the effect is independent of reported skeletal effects of potassium.
How it was done
The high animal and grain protein content of the Western diet creates a chronic acid load. The effect of this diet-induced metabolic acidosis on bone mass is controversial.
161 postmenopausal women aged 58.6 +/- 4.8 years with low bone mass were randomly assigned to take 30 mEq of oral potassium citrate or 30 mEq of potassium chloride daily for 12 months. The main measure was the difference between groups in the percentage change in bone mineral density at the lumbar spine.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This trial was in postmenopausal women with low bone mass, so the results may not apply to other groups.
- The study lasted 12 months, so it cannot show whether the bone density changes continue or affect fracture risk over a longer time.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- University of Basel, Switzerland
The paper
- Title
- Partial neutralization of the acidogenic Western diet with potassium citrate increases bone mass in postmenopausal women with osteopenia
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Jehle S, Zanetti A, Muser J, Hulter HN, Krapf R (2006). Partial neutralization of the acidogenic Western diet with potassium citrate increases bone mass in postmenopausal women with osteopenia. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. doi:10.1681/ASN.2006030233PubMed 17035614DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error