Potassium

Overview
Potassium is a very important mineral for the proper function of all cells, tissues, and organs in the human body. It is also an electrolyte, a substance that conducts electricity in the body, along with sodium, chloride, calcium, and magnesium. Potassium is crucial to heart function and plays a key role in skeletal and smooth muscle contraction, making it important for normal digestive and muscular function. Many foods contain potassium, including all meats, some types of fish (such as salmon, cod, and flounder), and many fruits, vegetables, and legumes. Dairy products are also good sources of potassium. Having too much potassium in the blood is called hyperkalemia; having too little is known as hypokalemia. Keeping the right potassium balance in the body depends on the amount of sodium and magnesium in the blood. Too much sodium -- common in Western diets that use a lot of salt -- may increase the need for potassium. Diarrhea, vomiting, excessive sweating, malnutrition, malabsorption syndromes (such as Crohn's disease) can also cause potassium deficiency, as well as use of a kind of heart medicine called loop diuretics. Most people get all of the potassium they need from a healthy diet rich in vegetables and fruits. Older people have a greater risk of hyperkalemia because their kidneys are less efficient at eliminating potassium as they age. Older people should be careful when taking medication that may affect potassium levels, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and ACE inhibitors (see section on Interactions). Whatever your age, talk to your doctor before taking potassium supplements. Bone Health Studies show a positive link between a diet rich in potassium and bone health, particularly among elderly women, suggesting that increasing consumption of foods rich in potassium may play a role in osteoporosis prevention. More research is needed to determine whether a diet high in potassium can reduce bone turnover in people. Hypokalemia The most important use of potassium is to treat the symptoms of hypokalemia (low potassium), which include weakness, lack of energy, muscle cramps, stomach disturbances, an irregular heartbeat, and an abnormal EKG (electrocardiogram, a test that measures heart function). Hypokalemia is usually caused by the body losing too much potassium in the urine or intestines; it's rarely caused by a lack of potassium in the diet. Hypokalemia can be life threatening and should always be treated by a doctor. High Blood Pressure

Some studies have linked low levels of potassium in the diet with high blood pressure. And there is some evidence that potassium supplements might cause a slight drop in blood pressure. Other studies show that increasing potassium intake reduces the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Researchers suspect this is largely due to potassium's blood pressure lowering effects. But not all studies agree -- 2 large studies found no effect on blood pressure. It may be that taking potassium helps lower blood pressure only if you're not getting enough of this mineral to start with. Before taking potassium or any supplement for high blood pressure, talk to your doctor. Stroke People who get a lot of potassium in their diet have a lower risk of stroke. However, potassium supplements don't seem to produce the same benefit. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) People with IBD (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease) often have trouble absorbing nutrients from their intestine, and may have low levels of potassium and other important nutrients. If you have IBD, your doctor may check your potassium levels and recommend a supplement.

Dietary Sources
Good sources of potassium include bananas, citrus juices (such as orange juice), avocados, cantaloupes, tomatoes, potatoes, lima beans, flounder, salmon, cod, chicken, and other meats.

Available Forms
Several potassium supplements are on the market, including potassium acetate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium citrate, potassium chloride, and potassium gluconate. Supplements are available in tablets, capsules, effervescent tablets, powders, and liquids. Potassium can also be found in multivitamins.

How to Take It
Potassium supplements, other than the small amount included in a multivitamin, should be taken only under your doctor's supervision. Do not give potassium supplements to a child unless your doctor prescribes it. Adequate intake of potassium from dietary sources are listed below: Pediatric

Infants birth - 6 months: 400 mg/day Infants 7 months - 12 months: 700 mg/day

Children 1 -3 years: 3 grams (3,000 mg)/day Children 4 - 8 years: 3.8 grams (3,800 mg)/day Children 9 - 13 years: 4.5 grams (4,500 mg)/day

Adult

Adults 19 years and older: 4.7 grams (4,700 mg)/day Pregnant women: 4.7 grams (4,700 mg)/day Breastfeeding women: 5.1 grams (5,100 mg)/day

Source: Potassium | University of Maryland Medical Center http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/potassium#ixzz2gaBiRix9 University of Maryland Medical Center Follow us: @UMMC on Twitter | MedCenter on Facebook