forms of potassium

Q: Which form of potassium administration gives the fastest potassium repletion?

A) Potassium phosphate 
B)  Potassium chloride 
C) Potassium bicarbonate


Answer: B

Out of all three preparations of potassium repletion, potassium chloride raises serum potassium concentration fastest. This is due to the fact that chloride is primarily an extracellular anion and only partially crosses the cell membrane. This is also advantageous in patients who develop hypokalemia from either diuretic therapy or vomiting, and are also chloride deficient. The administration of non-chloride potassium salts provides only 40% of the administrated potassium.

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References:

1. Mount DB. Disorders of Potassium Balance. In: Brenner and Rector's The Kidney, 10, Elsevier, 2016. 

2. KASSIRER JP, BERKMAN PM, LAWRENZ DR, SCHWARTZ WB. THE CRITICAL ROLE OF CHLORIDE IN THE CORRECTION OF HYPOKALEMIC ALKALOSIS IN MAN. Am J Med 1965; 38:172. 

3. Villamil MF, Deland EC, Henney RP, Maloney JV Jr. Anion effects on cation movements during correction of potassium depletion. Am J Physiol 1975; 229:161.