Side-by-Side Comparison
Essential Vitamins & Minerals
Potassium (Elemental K) vs. Vitamin B9 (Folate & Folic Acid)
Comparing 2 standards across 10 specifications. 10 key differences identified.
Comparing:
Potassium (Elemental K)
Vitamin B9 (Folate & Folic Acid)
Potassium is the primary intracellular cation (140 mEq/L intracellular vs 4 mEq/L extracellular), maintaining the cellular resting membrane potential via the Na+/K+-ATPase pump and regulating vascular tone. Adequate Intake (AI) is 3,400 mg (men) / 2,600 mg (women).
Vitamin B9 comprises natural dietary folates (polyglutamates) and synthetic folic acid (monoglutamate). Adult RDA is 400 µg DFE, with a Tolerable Upper Limit of 1,000 µg/day synthetic folic acid, essential as a single-carbon donor in thymidylate DNA synthesis and neural tube closure.
Specification Comparison Table
10 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Nutrient Type
|
Essential Macromineral / Major Intracellular Electrolyte | Water-Soluble Pteroylglutamate Vitamin |
|
Tolerable Upper Limit (UL)
|
None Established (Whole foods; healthy kidneys clear excess; renal impairment requires clinical restriction) | 1,000 µg / day (Synthetic folic acid only; masks B12 deficiency neuropathy) |
|
Chemical Forms
|
Potassium Citrate, Potassium Chloride (KCl / Salt substitute), Potassium Gluconate | (6S)-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF, active circulating form), Tetrahydrofolate (THF), Folic Acid (Pteroylmonoglutamic acid, synthetic) |
|
Primary Biological Function
|
Na+/K+-ATPase resting membrane potential (-70mV), Cardiac myocardial repolarization, Endothelial nitric oxide vasodilation (lowers blood pressure), Blunts sodium-induced fluid retention | 1-Carbon transfer reactions, dUMP -> dTMP methylation (Thymidine DNA synthesis), Methionine-Homocysteine cycle, Erythropoiesis |
|
Deficiency Condition
|
Hypokalemia (Serum K+ < 3.5 mmol/L): Cardiac arrhythmias (U-waves, ventricular tachycardia), Muscle weakness, Ileus, Hypertension | Neural Tube Defects (Spina bifida, anencephaly in fetuses), Megaloblastic Macrocytic Anemia, Elevated Homocysteine |
|
Top Whole Food Sources
|
Baked Russet Potato (with skin), Orange Sweet Potato, Spinach, Bananas, Atlantic Salmon, Black Beans, Hass Avocado, Coconut Water | Beef Liver, Spinach, Asparagus, Brussels Sprouts, Roman Lentils, Chickpeas, Fortified Flours |
|
Adult Adequate Intake (AI)
|
3,400 mg / day (Men) / 2,600 mg / day (Women) (WHO Target: >3,510 mg/day) | — |
|
Dietary Sodium-to-Potassium Ratio
|
Ancestral human ratio was 1:4 (Na:K); modern Western diets average 2:1, significantly contributing to hypertension | — |
|
Adult RDA / RDI
|
— | 400 µg DFE / day (600 µg DFE pregnancy / prevents neural tube defects) |
|
MTHFR Genetic Polymorphism
|
— | Homozygous MTHFR C677T variant reduces folate reduction activity by ~70%, benefiting from direct 5-MTHF supplementation |
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