Potassium citrate and bone health in postmenopausal women over two years
What it found
Taking potassium citrate for two years did not slow bone loss or change bone turnover markers in 276 postmenopausal women.
The authors say this means the alkali in the supplement does not explain any long-term bone benefits from eating more fruit and vegetables.
What they found
Studies in people
Bone turnover markers
Over the full two years, blood and urine markers of bone breakdown and building were about the same across all four groups. At 4 to 6 weeks only, one urine marker was slightly lower in the high-dose group.
Spine bone density
After two years, spine bone density dropped by an average of 1.8% in the dummy pill group. This was about the same as the 2.1% drop seen in the treatment groups combined.
Hip bone density
Hip bone density fell by 1.3% in the dummy pill group and 2.2% in the low-dose potassium citrate group. The authors found no meaningful difference between them.
What the authors conclude
- They conclude that taking potassium citrate for two years did not slow bone turnover or improve bone density in healthy postmenopausal women.
- They suggest that the alkali provided by the supplement does not explain any long-term bone benefits linked to eating more fruit and vegetables.
How it was done
Scientists think the alkali found in fruit and vegetables might be why those foods help bones stay strong. They wanted to test if giving that alkali directly as potassium citrate would have the same effect.
They followed 276 healthy women aged 55 to 65 who had been through menopause, for two years. Women were randomly put into four groups: a high dose of potassium citrate, a low dose, a dummy pill, or an extra 300 g of fruit and vegetables each day. Researchers checked blood, urine and bone density at several points during the study.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This trial tested supplements and extra food over two years, so it cannot show what happens over a longer time.
- The women studied were healthy and past menopause, so the results may not apply to younger women, men or people with bone disease.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom
The paper
- Title
- Effect of potassium citrate supplementation or increased fruit and vegetable intake on bone metabolism in healthy postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Macdonald HM, Black AJ, Aucott L, et al (2008). Effect of potassium citrate supplementation or increased fruit and vegetable intake on bone metabolism in healthy postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial. The American journal of clinical nutrition. doi:10.1093/ajcn/88.2.465PubMed 18689384DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error