Potassium citrate (and its related salts, including potassium citrate malate) is scientifically validated for the prevention and management of certain types of kidney stones, particularly those composed of calcium oxalate and uric acid. The primary mechanism is through urinary alkalinization and increasing urinary citrate levels. Citrate binds to calcium in the urine, reducing the amount of free calcium available to form stones, and also inhibits stone formation through direct effects on the crystallization process.

Multiple randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses support the use of potassium citrate for reducing stone recurrence, especially in patients with hypocitraturia (low urinary citrate), who are at increased risk. The American Urological Association (AUA) and European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines recommend citrate therapy for patients at risk of recurrent calcium stones due to low citrate excretion or those with uric acid stones.

While most studies focus on potassium citrate rather than potassium citrate malate specifically, potassium citrate malate is a chemically similar compound and is expected to exert comparable effects on urinary citrate levels and pH. Clinical data directly evaluating potassium citrate malate are more limited but suggest similar efficacy. Overall, the use of potassium citrate (and by extension, potassium citrate malate) in the management of certain kidney stone types is strongly supported by scientific evidence.