Deficiency symptoms
Tired and weakened muscles; low blood pressure, distended stomach, strong thirst, slow and irregular pulse, muscle spasms caused by training, loss of appetite, mental apathy, breathing difficulties, mental disorder, and a failing ability to concentrate.
Also coma - often caused by medicinal poisoning, surgical operations, burns, renal failure, alcoholism, fasting, diabetes, stress or shock, and more infrequently strong sweating.
Symptoms of poisoning
Loss of appetite, weakened muscles, apathy, and heart failure.
RDA: Not formulated, unofficially 3 to 5 g.
Against potassium deficiency
Drink 4 to 6 glasses of fruit juice or vegetable soup daily; Eat fruits, especially dried ones, soya flour and -beans, molasses, nuts, wheat bran, raw vegetables, potatoes, nuts, and bananas.
The absorption of potassium is passive; it needs no carrier substances and takes place in the whole length of the small intestine. Diarrhoea can disturb the absorption. Diuretics can be the cause of serious potassium deficiency.
In the human organism, potassium is mainly found in the cells and in the muscle cells in particular, but a surplus of sodium (table salt) can to some extent oust it, resulting in severe deficiency.
Potassium is an activator to a number of enzymes which are important for the body's energy production and it works with sodium to maintain the body's fluid balance, neural conductance, and protein synthesis. Potassium is together with vitamins such as B1
(thiamine) and B5 (pantothenic acid) also co-responsible for intestinal peristalsis.
The most important functions of potassium are:
- To maintain a normal fluid balance and electrolytic balance in the cell.
- To activate a number of enzymes, especially those connected with energy production.
- To cause particular cells to synthesize proteins.
- (With sodium) to transmit nerve impulses.
- To increase heart and muscular reactivity towards nerve stimuli.
- To preserve the acid/base balance in the body in cooperation with bicarbonates, phosphates, and proteins plus sodium, calcium and magnesium.
