Evidence supporting the use of: Potassium Citrate
For the health condition: Gout

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Potassium citrate is scientifically used in the management of gout, primarily because it acts as a urinary alkalinizer. Gout is characterized by the deposition of monosodium urate crystals in joints and tissues, which occurs when serum uric acid levels are elevated. Potassium citrate increases urinary pH, promoting the solubility of uric acid and reducing the risk of uric acid stone formation in the kidneys—a common complication in patients with gout.

Several clinical studies have explored the use of potassium citrate in patients with uric acid nephrolithiasis (uric acid kidney stones), a condition closely related to gout. The evidence suggests that potassium citrate is effective in raising urinary pH and thereby decreasing the risk of stone recurrence. For example, a 2002 study in Kidney International demonstrated that potassium citrate therapy significantly reduced the recurrence of uric acid stones in patients with low urinary pH. Although the primary indication is for uric acid kidney stones, these findings are relevant to gout patients who are at increased risk of such stones.

However, potassium citrate does not lower serum uric acid directly and is not a first-line therapy for managing acute gout attacks or chronic hyperuricemia. Its role is supportive, targeting the prevention of uric acid nephrolithiasis rather than gout itself. The evidence base, while moderate, justifies its use in patients with gout who also have acidic urine or a history of uric acid stones.

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