Rationale for a Novel Nutraceutical Complex: Potassium Taurine Bicarbonate

Potassium taurine bicarbonate (PTB), an equimolar blend of potassium bicarbonate and taurine, provides a convenient and feasible means of delivering physiologically significant doses of potassium, taurine, and organic base when dissolved in water (“Kwater”). This brief essay reviews the versatile and complementary health benefits that likely would accrue in individuals making regular use of K-water; in particular, an adequate intake of PTB could be expected to aid blood pressure control, lessen risk for atherosclerosis and its thromboembolic complications (particularly stroke), promote maintenance of bone density, help to prevent calcium renal stones, and possibly reduce risk for weight gain and diabetes. Potassium Taurine Bicarbonate Potassium taurine bicarbonate (PTB) is a mineral complex that provides three dietary compounds that are suboptimally supplied by most modern diets: potassium, taurine, and base (as bicarbonate ion). It consists of an equimolar blend of potassium bicarbonate and taurine. When added to water, these compounds form a soluble ionic complex which has a slightly lower pH than that of potassium bicarbonate alone, and that is less prone than potassium bicarbonate to evolve carbon dioxide when small amounts of acid are added to the solution. (J. Zielinski, personal communication). Most likely, this reflects formation of an ionic complex in which potassium is attracted to the negatively charged sulfonic acid group of the taurine zwitterion, the bicarbonate ion is attracted to the positively charged amine group of taurine, and potassium and bicarbonate are attracted to each other. When incorporated in this complex, bicarbonate is less prone to extract protons from solution, thus explaining the pH characteristics of this complex. When added to a liter of water, 60 mmol of PTB (13.5 g) provides 2.35 g potassium and 7.5 g taurine. The first sip of the resulting solution can have a mildly acrid flavor, but this flavor rapidly down-regulates such that there is very little detectable flavor in subsequent sips: in other words, it tastes like ordinary water. Thus, an aqueous solution of PTB – designated “K-water” – represents a convenient, feasible means of administering PTB. K-water can be blended with neutral or mildly alkaline ingredients to produce soft drinks, teas, and modified juices. Acidic additives generate free potassium ion, ruining the flavor; thus, K-water cannot be used to make coffee. Potassium, taurine, and organic base are each distinguished by the fact that daily multigram doses are required to provide optimal physiological benefit. Furthermore, consumption of potassium in a concentrated form – as in tablets or capsules – risks injury