Definition:

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Mineraux®Potassium gluconate Health Benefits:

Potassium does not occur naturally in its elemental form. It is widely distributed across land and oceans in the form of salts and is a vital component of human muscle and nerve tissue. It participates in carbohydrate, protein and energy metabolism, and serves as the primary cation within cells. It maintains osmotic pressure between intracellular and extracellular fluids, regulating the body's acid-base balance. It sustains neuromuscular excitability and maintains cardiac function; one of the primary drivers of myocardial cell membrane potential changes is the transfer of potassium ions between the intracellular and extracellular spaces. Reduced total body potassium can lead to hypokalaemia, which primarily manifests as muscle weakness and paralysis, arrhythmias, rhabdomyolysis and renal dysfunction. Common causes of hypokalaemia include inadequate dietary intake or excessive loss. Individuals with normal eating habits rarely experience deficiency through diet alone. However, prolonged fasting or reduced food intake due to illness or other factors, combined with the administration of potassium-deficient or potassium-free intravenous fluids, can result in deficiency. Excessive loss can be caused by frequent vomiting, diarrhoea, gastrointestinal drainage, working in high-temperature environments, strenuous physical labour or profuse sweating, all of which can lead to significant potassium depletion. Potassium supplementation can be achieved through dietary supplements.

Mineraux®Potassium gluconate is a multifunctional food additive, primarily employed as a potassium fortifier and acidity regulator. Within the food industry, potassium gluconate serves as a potassium fortifier. In pharmaceutical applications, it also functions as an effective potassium supplement, maintaining cellular osmotic pressure, regulating the body's acid-base balance, and playing a vital role in sustaining skeletal muscle tone.

Particularities of Mineraux®Potassium gluconate:

Product Specifications:

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Product quality standards:

● USP, GB 1903.41, Food grade, In-house

▶Essential potassium supplementation

Mineraux®Potassium gluconate Applications:

Potassium is an essential macromineral for the human body that participates in numerous fundamental physiological processes. With its stable potassium content and gentle absorption, potassium gluconate effectively replenishes potassium levels in the body. Potassium ions are key mediators of electrical activity in cardiac muscle cells, playing a role in the depolarisation and repolarisation processes of the myocardium. They regulate cardiac rhythm, mitigating the risk of arrhythmias such as tachycardia and premature beats caused by hypokalaemia. This aids the maintenance of stable myocardial contraction. For healthy individuals, adequate dietary potassium intake alongside low sodium intake aligns with the heart-protective dietary principle. Potassium and sodium work together to regulate fluid distribution in the body by influencing intracellular and extracellular osmotic pressure. This maintains fluid balance and prevents oedema or dehydration caused by potassium deficiency. Furthermore, potassium promotes renal excretion of sodium, thereby reducing sodium retention in the body and consequently lowering the risk of elevated blood pressure induced by high sodium intake. This makes potassium particularly suitable for hypertensive individuals who require sodium intake control. Potassium ions play a key role in nerve impulse transmission and serve as a signalling molecule for skeletal and smooth muscle contraction. Adequate potassium intake prevents symptoms such as muscle weakness, cramps and numbness caused by hypokalaemia, which is important for athletes and elderly people. Adequate potassium intake is also important for maintaining normal peristalsis in the gastrointestinal smooth muscle, thereby reducing issues such as indigestion and bloating caused by hypokalaemia. As an activator of multiple metabolic enzymes, potassium is involved in the breakdown and synthesis of sugars and proteins in the body. It promotes cellular energy production(e.g., by participating in the tricarboxylic acid cycle), helping alleviate discomfort such as insufficient energy supply and fatigue caused by low potassium levels.

■ Core features

Mineraux®Potassium gluconate contains 16.65% potassium by weight, with 1g of potassium present in every 5.99g of potassium gluconate, making it an excellent potassium fortifier. It possesses a mildly bitter yet gentle flavour profile. Compared to the salty astringency of potassium chloride and the pronounced acidity of potassium citrate, it exerts a lesser impact on food flavour, making it particularly suitable for long-term potassium supplementation in food formulations. Its solubility at room temperature is approximately 81g/100mL, dissolving rapidly in aqueous solutions. This makes it suitable for liquid foods such as beverages and dairy products. It binds with metal ions like iron and copper to inhibit oxidation reactions, thereby extending the shelf life of canned goods and sauces while preventing the degradation of vitamin C.

Mineraux®Potassium gluconate is available in the following specification and contents:

☑  Mineraux®Potassium gluconate anhydrous 97.0-103.0%

Mineraux®Potassium gluconate is widely used in the food industry thanks to its high-quality potassium content, mild taste, good water solubility, and multiple processing functions. It is also used in many other fields, such as medicine and cosmetics.

In the food industry, Mineraux®Potassium gluconate, as a potassium ion supplement, works alongside electrolytes such as sodium and magnesium to quickly replenish potassium lost after exercise, maintain fluid balance and neuromuscular function, and relieve fatigue. Its high water solubility ensures uniform dispersion in beverages without affecting product clarity. Potassium gluconate neutralizes the strong acidity of carbonic acid, improving mouthfeel and smoothness while reducing the risk of tooth decay. It also adjusts the pH of the system (typically to 4.0-4.5), stabilizing beverage flavor and color and preventing quality changes caused by acid imbalance. Potassium gluconate stabilizes the acidity of natural fruit juices, inhibits polyphenol oxidase activity, prevents browning, and extends shelf life. Its mild taste doesn't mask the original flavor of the fruit, and it has less impact on flavor than other acidity regulators. Potassium gluconate is used in solid beverages such as protein powders and meal replacement powders as a potassium supplement. It dissolves quickly after mixing, meeting the potassium supplement needs of specific populations.

In the dairy industry, Mineraux®Potassium gluconate, as a potassium nutrient fortifier, precisely supplements the potassium needs of different populations, meeting the needs of specialized nutritional formulas. It also offers excellent compatibility with milk powder ingredients, without affecting the solubility and brewing stability of milk powder. Potassium gluconate can adjust the pH of the fermentation system, creating a suitable environment for lactic acid bacteria growth, optimizing the fermentation process and shortening fermentation time. It also improves yogurt texture, preventing stratification and clumping, and enhancing product smoothness. In cheese production, potassium gluconate helps regulate the pH of the coagulation process, helping to form a stable cheese structure. In ice cream, it works synergistically with emulsifiers to prevent oil separation and excessive ice crystal size, enhancing a smooth texture and stable texture.

Furthermore, Mineraux®Potassium gluconate can synergize with gelling agents such as pectin and gelatin to adjust the pH of the system, promote gel formation, and enhance gel strength and stability, preventing jelly collapse and jam separation. Potassium gluconate can also be used in special medical foods, such as for patients with hypokalemia and postoperative nutritional supplements. As a mild source of potassium supplement, it has good gastrointestinal tolerance and is suitable for long-term consumption. It should be added strictly according to the prescribed dosage.

■ Production technology characteristics

The production process of potassium gluconate involves mixing a solution of gluconic acid with a stoichiometric ratio of potassium hydroxide (or potassium carbonate) to initiate a neutralisation reaction. This reaction must be controlled at a pH level between 6.5 and 7.5 and at a temperature between 50 and 70°C to ensure the complete conversion of the gluconic acid.

The reaction solution is then subjected to vacuum distillation to remove water and concentrate the solution to a potassium gluconate concentration of approximately 40-50%. Slow cooling to 20-30 °C causes the potassium gluconate to precipitate as a monohydrate. After filtration and drying, a granular product is obtained. The concentrated solution is atomised into micron-sized droplets via a centrifugal atomiser. Instantaneous drying upon contact with hot air yields a powdered product suitable for high-purity applications.

Mineraux®Potassium gluconate solutions exhibit mild alkalinity. Upon metabolic processing within the human body, they generate alkaline by-products capable of neutralising acidic substances produced by prolonged consumption of highly acidic foods (such as meat and refined grains). This aids in maintaining stable internal acid-base equilibrium, thereby mitigating potential burdens associated with acidic bodily conditions. Potassium indirectly supports bone density maintenance by regulating renal calcium excretion, thereby reducing calcium loss. This offers particular auxiliary benefits for bone health in middle-aged and elderly individuals (requiring synergistic action with nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D). Compared to the salty, astringent taste of potassium chloride, potassium gluconate offers a milder flavour profile with reduced irritation to gastrointestinal mucosa. This makes it suitable for individuals with sensitive digestive systems seeking long-term dietary potassium supplementation, thereby lowering the risk of discomfort such as stomach pain or diarrhoea associated with potassium supplementation.

▶ Auxiliary Physiological Functions

Mineraux®Potassium gluconate is used as a source of potassium in low-sodium salts and seasonings, where it partially replaces sodium chloride. This reduces sodium intake while providing an additional source of potassium, which aligns with dietary requirements for individuals at risk of hypertension or renal disease. When incorporated into sports drinks and postoperative nutritional preparations, it rapidly replenishes potassium ions lost through perspiration or diarrhoea, thereby aiding the restoration of electrolyte balance. Its excellent solubility and mild taste enhance human acceptance.

▶ Adaptive value in specialised scenarios

Chemistry name: D-Gluconic acid, potassium salt (1:1)

CAS No.: 299-27-4

EINECS No.: 206-074-2

Chemical formula: C6H11KO7

Molecular mass: 234.25 g/mol

Physical and Chemical Properties: