Potassium is scientifically validated as part of the treatment for certain forms of alkalosis, specifically metabolic alkalosis. Metabolic alkalosis is a condition characterized by an elevated blood pH due to increased bicarbonate or loss of hydrogen ions. One of the most common causes of metabolic alkalosis is excessive loss of potassium and hydrogen ions, often due to vomiting, diuretic use, or certain kidney disorders.

When potassium levels are low (hypokalemia), the kidneys attempt to conserve potassium by exchanging it for hydrogen ions, leading to increased excretion of hydrogen and perpetuating or worsening alkalosis. Administering potassium chloride (KCl) corrects hypokalemia and indirectly helps correct the alkalosis by reducing renal hydrogen ion loss and promoting the retention of hydrogen ions. In addition, potassium itself acts as a buffer in the body’s acid-base balance.

Clinical guidelines and textbooks, such as the Harriet Lane Handbook and Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, recommend potassium supplementation as a frontline intervention in metabolic alkalosis associated with potassium depletion. Numerous clinical studies and case reports confirm that potassium repletion is crucial for effective resolution of alkalosis in these cases. Thus, the use of potassium in treating alkalosis is not merely traditional but is strongly rooted in pathophysiological understanding and clinical evidence.