Potassium citrate

Other names: Potassium citrate, Tripotassium citrate, E332

Harm score: 2 (Derivatives of natural substances)

Potassium citrate, also known as Potassium citrate or Tripotassium citrate, is a colorless, crystalline substance with a sweet taste and high solubility in water. It is a compound of potassium and citric acid, which is used in the food industry as an acidity regulator and stabilizer under the designation E332. Among other things, it is also used in medicine, particularly to reduce the risk of kidney stone formation.

Potassium citrate is added to a variety of foods and beverages, such as cola drinks, dried dairy products, candy, mustard, ice cream, wines or yoghurt. Its function is to prevent changes in the properties of food during storage and helps to stabilise colour and flavour. As it is the potassium salt of citric acid, citrate potassium is able to raise blood potassium levels - so it is an important supplement for people with low potassium levels. At the same time, it also has some therapeutic effects, for example, it can alleviate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis or some functional gastrointestinal disorders.