Last update Aug. 6, 2021

Potassium Chloride

Compatible

Safe product and/or breastfeeding is the best option.

Unprocessed plant foods such as legumes, nuts, vegetables and fruits are very rich in potassium.
A dietary intake of potassium of about 3,500 mg (90 mmol) per day is recommended (WHO 2013, WHO 2012, Hall 2010).
Potassium chloride is the most widely used potassium salt in medicine to correct, orally or intravenously, potassium deficiency (hypokalemia).
Also used as a substitute (E508) for common salt to reduce sodium intake in the diet.

Potassium is an ion present in breast milk at a concentration 3 to 7 times greater than that of plasma: ≈ 14 - 18 mEq/L (Lawrence 2016, Allen 1991).
Like other monovalent ions, it enters and leaves the milk freely, inversely to the lactose concentration (Lawrence 2016 p119).
Potassium supplements do not significantly change levels in breast milk (Hale, Ereman 1987).
In the body, it is found mainly within cells, with a plasma concentration within precise limits (3.5 to 5.5 mEq/L), outside of which there are serious clinical alterations.
Potassium treatments cannot raise the concentration in milk without first altering that of the blood.

At therapeutic doses, potassium chloride is compatible with lactation (Hale, Briggs 2015).
WHO Essential Medicines List: compatible with breastfeeding (WHO 2002)

Alternatives

We do not have alternatives for Potassium Chloride since it is relatively safe.

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

Your contribution is essential for this service to continue to exist. We need the generosity of people like you who believe in the benefits of breastfeeding.

Thank you for helping to protect and promote breastfeeding.

José María Paricio, founder of e-lactancia.

Other names

Potassium Chloride in other languages or writings:

Tradenames

Main tradenames from several countries containing Potassium Chloride in its composition:

Pharmacokinetics

Variable Value Unit
Molecular weight 75 daltons

References

  1. Hale TW. Medications & Mothers' Milk. 1991- . Springer Publishing Company. Available from https://www.halesmeds.com Consulted on April 10, 2024 Full text (link to original source)
  2. Lawrence RA, Lawrence RM. Breastfeeding. A guide for the medical profession. Eighth Edition. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2016
  3. Briggs GG, Freeman RK, Towers CV, Forinash AB. Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation: A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk. Wolters Kluwer Health. Tenth edition (acces on line) 2015
  4. OMS. Ingesta de potasio en adultos y niños. Resumen. Directrices 2013 Full text (in our servers)
  5. WHO. Potassium intake for adults and children. Guideline 2012 Full text (in our servers)
  6. Hall Moran V, Lowe N, Crossland N, Berti C, Cetin I, Hermoso M, Koletzko B, Dykes F. Nutritional requirements during lactation. Towards European alignment of reference values: the EURRECA network. Matern Child Nutr. 2010 Oct;6 Suppl 2:39-54. Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  7. EFSA. European Food Safety Authority. Tolerable upper intake levels for vitamins and minerals. Scientific Committee on Food. 2006 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  8. WHO / UNICEF. BREASTFEEDING AND MATERNAL MEDICATION Recommendations for Drugs in the Eleventh WHO Model List of Essential Drugs. Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development (WHO/UNICEF) 2002 Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  9. Allen JC, Keller RP, Archer P, Neville MC. Studies in human lactation: milk composition and daily secretion rates of macronutrients in the first year of lactation. Am J Clin Nutr. 1991 Abstract
  10. Ereman RR, Lönnerdal B, Dewey KG. Maternal sodium intake does not affect postprandial sodium concentrations in human milk. J Nutr. 1987 Abstract

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