Potassium is important for regulating pH levels in body fluids, blood pressure and muscle and nerve cells. Obtaining adequate potassium is particularly critical for individuals who are dieting or taking diuretics, which is why potassium is commonly used in diet and meal replacement bars and other dietary products.
The new ingredients, dipotassium phosphate and potassium chloride, form part of Balchem's Vitashure product line.
"Balchem has utilized its microencapsulation technology to overcome potassium's characteristic bad taste and hygroscopicity to ensure trouble-free incorporation into a range of products," said Vernetta Dally, applications manager for Balchem Encapsulates.
Dipotassium phosphate in particular is highly hygroscopic and picks up moisture from the surrounding environment, which can cause clumping and other processing challenges.
Balchem applies a uniform layer of a coating material to dipotassium phosphate and potassium chloride to stabilize and protect them during processing, and to mask any undesirable flavors.
The substances, dipotassium phosphate (vitashure 664) and potassium chloride (vitashure 665) can be used in a range of products including nutrition bars, tablets, confections and chews. As potassium can appear as white specs when incorporated into nutrition bars, Balchem is also offering dipotassium phosphate in a brown color, vitashure 662.