Side-by-Side Comparison
Essential Vitamins & Minerals
Potassium (Elemental K) vs. Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
Comparing 2 standards across 10 specifications. 10 key differences identified.
Comparing:
Potassium (Elemental K)
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
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 B12 is a cobalt-containing water-soluble corrinoid synthesized exclusively by microorganisms. Adult RDA is 2.4µg/day (no Upper Limit established), required for DNA synthesis, methionine synthase homocysteine conversion, and myelin sheath maintenance.
Specification Comparison Table
10 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Nutrient Type
|
Essential Macromineral / Major Intracellular Electrolyte | Water-Soluble Corrinoid Vitamin |
|
Tolerable Upper Limit (UL)
|
None Established (Whole foods; healthy kidneys clear excess; renal impairment requires clinical restriction) | None Established (Extremely low toxicity) |
|
Chemical Forms
|
Potassium Citrate, Potassium Chloride (KCl / Salt substitute), Potassium Gluconate | Methylcobalamin (Active), Adenosylcobalamin (Active), Cyanocobalamin (Stable 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 | Methionine synthase cofactor, Methylmalonyl-CoA mutase cofactor, Myelin integrity, Erythropoiesis |
|
Deficiency Condition
|
Hypokalemia (Serum K+ < 3.5 mmol/L): Cardiac arrhythmias (U-waves, ventricular tachycardia), Muscle weakness, Ileus, Hypertension | Pernicious / Megaloblastic Anemia, Irreversible Neurological Peripheral Neuropathy |
|
Top Whole Food Sources
|
Baked Russet Potato (with skin), Orange Sweet Potato, Spinach, Bananas, Atlantic Salmon, Black Beans, Hass Avocado, Coconut Water | Oysters, Beef Liver, Sardines, Salmon, Beef, Dairy, Eggs (Absent in unfortified plant foods) |
|
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
|
— | 2.4 µg / day (2.6µg pregnancy, 2.8µg lactation) |
|
Absorption Mechanism
|
— | Requires Gastric Acid, R-Protein, and Intrinsic Factor (IF) via Ileal Cubam receptors |
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