Potassium citrate and bone mass in postmenopausal women with low bone density
What it found
Potassium citrate increased bone density in the spine, hip and femoral neck of postmenopausal women with low bone mass over 12 months.
The effect was separate from potassium itself.
What they found
Studies in people
Bone density gains
Women taking potassium citrate gained more bone density than those taking potassium chloride. The increase was 1.87% at the lower spine, 1.39% at the femoral neck and 1.98% at the total hip after 12 months.
Spine changes over time
The potassium citrate group saw spine bone density rise from the start at months 3, 9 and 12, reaching a 0.89% gain by month 12. The potassium chloride group lost 0.98% by month 12.
Other bone sites
No meaningful differences between the two groups were found for bone density in the wrist or the whole body.
Urine markers
Potassium citrate lowered calcium leaving the body in urine and raised citrate levels, showing the body became less acidic. Markers of bone breakdown in urine also fell.
Blood pressure
Both potassium supplements led to large drops in blood pressure across the full 12 months.
What the authors conclude
- They conclude that adding daily alkali as citrate can significantly raise bone mass in postmenopausal women with low bone density.
- The authors say this benefit is separate from any known effects of potassium on bones.
How it was done
Western diets high in animal and grain protein create a constant acid load in the body. Scientists disagree on whether this diet-related acidity affects bone mass.
Researchers gave 161 postmenopausal women with low bone mass either potassium citrate or potassium chloride daily for 12 months. The women were around 58.6 years old on average. Neither the women nor the researchers knew who got which supplement until the end.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This trial only looked at postmenopausal women with low bone mass, so the results may not apply to men, younger women or people with normal bone density.
- The study lasted 12 months, so it cannot show whether these bone gains last longer or prevent fractures.
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 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error