Electrolytes
Electrolyte blends combine sodium, potassium, magnesium and chloride for hydration briefs, the standout new entry in our recent quote data.
Metabolism
Workout performance
What it is
Electrolytes are the charged minerals, principally sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and chloride, that govern fluid balance, nerve conduction and muscle function. Hydration products built around them are one of the fastest-growing categories in our quote data, spanning sports hydration, everyday wellness and low-sugar alternatives to legacy sports drinks.
Forms and sourcing
Blend design is a choice of salt forms: sodium chloride and sodium citrate, potassium chloride and citrate, magnesium citrate, glycinate or malate, and calcium salts where specified. Each form carries different mineral density, solubility and taste. Citrates dissolve cleanly and taste mild; chlorides are dense and salty; glycinates trade density for gentleness. We formulate to a target mineral dose per serving and work the salt selection back from taste and format.
Benefits and evidence
The claims position for hydration is unusually good. Authorised EFSA claims cover electrolyte-relevant minerals directly: magnesium and potassium for normal muscle function, magnesium for electrolyte balance and reduction of tiredness, and carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions for maintaining endurance performance and enhancing water absorption during exercise, where the product meets that definition.
Typical dosage and formats
Typical sports-hydration servings deliver 300–1,000 mg sodium, 150–400 mg potassium and 50–120 mg magnesium; everyday blends run lighter. The natural formats are stick packs, tubs of powder and effervescent tablets. Flavour development is the heart of these projects, since salt loads must taste clean at full dose.
UK and EU regulatory position
The component minerals are permitted for food supplements in the UK and EU in their listed source forms, with labelling per mineral in mg and %NRV where an NRV exists. The carbohydrate-electrolyte solution claims apply only where the finished drink meets the compositional definition, which we design to when a brief wants those claims. Sugar-free formulations instead carry the individual mineral claims. Sodium levels are formulated deliberately given wider public-health guidance; our team sets the right level for the audience during development.
