Effects of potassium citrate or potassium chloride in patients with combined glucose intolerance: A placebo-controlled pilot study.

Abstract Background Experimental K + depletion reversibly inhibits insulin secretion, while chronic metabolic acidosis decreases insulin sensitivity. We aimed to investigate the effects of potassium supplementation and alkali supplementation in non-acidotic, normokalemic humans with combined glucose intolerance. Study design and results In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 11 subjects (7 male, 4 female, ages 47–63 years), 90meqs of oral KCl or Kcitrate per day for 2weeks each increased insulin production as measured by homeostasis model assessment Beta [KCl=86 (CI 81–91), Kcitrate=88 (82–94), placebo=78 (73–83)%, p p p p Conclusions K + supplementation in the absence of overt K + depletion improves beta-cell function in subjects with combined glucose intolerance. The insulin-sensitizing and hypotensive effect, however, depend on citrate as the accompanying anion.