About Potassium

Potassium is an element in the periodic table. It has the symbol K (Latin for kalium). The name "potassium" comes from the word "potash", as potassium was first isolated from potash. Potassium is a soft silvery-white metallic alkali metal that occurs naturally bound to other elements in seawater and many minerals.  With the exception of calcium and phosphorus, no other mineral is as abundant in the human body as potassium. Almost 98% of potassium is found inside the cells. 

Potassium gets very little press, yet it's effective at lowering blood pressure — and even a 1 to 2 percent reduction translates into a reduced risk of strokes. Potassium also helps reduce the incidence of kidney stones and heart arrhythmias. Potassium even appears to benefit bones by neutralizing acids in the bloodstream that leach calcium from bone deposits. For more information on how to treat high blood pressure naturally.

Potassium Daily Requirement
The current guidelines call for up to 5 grams a day, but most Americans don't get close. 

Potassium in Food - Potassium Rich Foods
Foods high in potassium include molasses, sweet yams, bananas, dates and figs, tomato juice, raisins, and apricots. Other good sources of potassium in food include cantaloupe, orange, and almonds. A single cup of sweet potato has 950 milligrams. Four figs add up to 540; a cup of cantaloupe, 500, and a glass of orange juice is 450 mg.

Potassium chloride - Potassium supplement
Potassium chloride is in the class of drugs called potassium supplements which are used to treat low potassium conditions (hypokalemia) or prevent them from occurring. Potassium is the principal positive ion inside of the cells of the body and is used in nerve conduction, muscle contraction, and normal kidney function. Brand names of potassium chloride include K-Dur, K-Lor, K-Tab, Kaon CL, Klorvess, Slow-K, Ten-K, Klotrix, K-Lyte CL and many others.

Potassium level
The normal potassium level is 3.5-5.0 mEq/L. Low potassium is defined as a potassium level below 3.5 mEq/L. Almost 1 out of 5 people hospitalized in the United States have a low potassium level. Up to 14% of people otherwise seen in doctors' offices have slightly low potassium levels.

Low potassium- Potassium Deficiency - Hypokalemia
It is unlikely to have a dietary deficiency of potassium as it is present in a large number of foods. Deficiency can occur when there are large losses resulting from excessive urination or from prolonged vomiting and diarrhea. Low potassium can occur from the use of certain medicines. A potassium deficiency can also occur in those who adhere to a low potassium diet

Symptom of Low Potassium
A deficiency of potassium causes weakness, fatigue, heart rhythm problems, paralysis, and kidney dysfunction. 

High potassium level
Hyperkalemia or high blood level of potassium occurs when the level of potassium in the bloodstream is higher than normal. This may be related to increase in total body potassium or excessive release of potassium from the cells into the bloodstream. The kidneys normally excrete excess potassium from the body. Therefore, most cases of hyperkalemia are caused by disorders that reduce the kidneys' ability to excrete potassium. These conditions inlcude acute kidney failure, chronic kidney failure, lupus nephritis, rejection of a kidney transplant, obstructive uropathy, and glomerulonephritis.

Potassium Citrate
Taking potassium citrate, a base, to neutralize the high acidity of typical Western diets can help increase bone mass in postmenopausal women with thinning bones. "Our results demonstrate for the first time that merely by partially reversing the acidity of the diet, bone mass increased rapidly and in amounts that are within the range of increase produced by common FDA-approved medicines," says Dr. Reto Krapf, from the University of Basel in Switzerland. The effect of continuously high acid levels on bone formation is controversial, but there is some evidence to suggest that they are associated with a drop in bone mineral density. Thus, neutralizing high acidity might increase bone mass. The current study, described in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, involved 161 women with sub-par bone mineral density who were randomly assigned to take potassium citrate, a base compound that reacts with acid to neutralize it, or potassium chloride daily for 6 to 12 months. The women taking potassium citrate showed significant increases in BMD at the spine and hip compared with the women given potassium chloride. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, November 2006.

Q. I am interested in the reports saying that potassium citrate helps build bones. I can find lots of food items that contain potassium, but can't find any foods that are listed as containing what appears to be the valuable form of potassium citrate. My question is: are there food sources of potassium citrate?

A. Fruits and vegetables have good amounts of potassium. It would not be practical to focus on specific foods that only contain potassium citrate and the best choice is to take potassium citrate supplements. However, There are many factors involved in bone formation and one should not just focus on potassium citrate. See osteoporosis for a full evaluation.

Potassium Nitrate
This form of potassium is a transparent white crystalline compound, KNO3, used to pickle meat and in the manufacture of pyrotechnics, explosives, matches, rocket propellants, and fertilizers. Potassium nitrate is also called saltpeter.

Potassium Permanganate
This form of potassium is also known as Permanganic acid. Potassium permanganate is a useful fish disease treatment; acting against a range of protozoan parasites including Trichodina, Costia and Chilodonella, as well as monogenean flukes Gyrodactylus (skin flukes) and Dactylogyrus (gill flukes).

Potassium Hydroxide
Pure potassium hydroxide is mostly for commercial and laboratory use. A strong base, it dissolves readily in water, giving off much heat and forming a strongly alkaline, caustic solution. Potassium hydroxide is commonly called caustic potash. It closely resembles sodium hydroxide in its chemical properties and has similar uses: in making soap, in bleaching, and in manufacturing chemicals. Potassium hydroxide is prepared chiefly by electrolysis of potassium chloride.

Potassium Iodide
Potassium iodide is used to treat overactive thyroid and to protect the thyroid gland from the effects of radiation from inhaled or swallowed radioactive iodine. Potassium iodide may be used before and after administration of medicine containing radioactive iodine or after accidental exposure to radioactive iodine (for example, from nuclear power plant accidents that involved release of radioactivity to the environment). Potassium iodide is taken by mouth. It may be taken as an oral solution, syrup, or uncoated tablet.

Potassium Cyanide
An extremely poisonous white compound, KCN, potassium cyanide is used in the extraction of gold and silver from ores, in electroplating, and in photography, and as a fumigant and insecticide.

Potassium Sorbate
Potassium sorbate is the potassium salt of sorbic acid, an organic acid that has been used extensively as a fungistatic agent for foods. Potassium sorbate is used to inhibit molds, yeasts, and fungi in many foods, such as cheese, wine, and baked goods.

Potassium Perchlorate
Potassium Perchlorate is used in the pyrotechnics to give a bright light for illumination. It is a powerful oxidizing agent. It is used to manufacture explosives and matches because of its ability to produce oxygen. Perchlorate is a powerful ingredient of bleaching powder used in paper and pulp processing and calico printing.

Potassium Dichromate
Potassium dichromate is used in the manufacture of photographic engraving and lithographic chemicals, as a catalyst for the production of chromium metal, pyrotechnics and explosives.

Potassium carbonate
Potassium carbonate is a white salt, soluble in water (insoluble in alcohol), which forms a strongly alkaline solution. It can be made as the product of potassium hydroxide's absorbant reaction with carbon dioxide. It is a deliquescent (usually damp or wet) solid, used in the production of soap and glass. Potassium carbonate is the primary component of potash and the more refined pearlash or salts of tartar. Potassium carbonate is prepared commercially by the electrolysis of potassium chloride. The resulting potassium hydroxide is then carbonated using carbon dioxide to form potassium carbonate, which is often used to produce other potassium compounds.

Potassium Chlorate
Potassium chlorate is a compound composed of potassium (K), chlorine (Cl), and oxygen (O).

Acesulfame potassium
Acesulfame potassium is a calorie-free artificial sweetener, also known as Acesulfame K or Ace K, and marketed under the trade names Sunett and Sweet One. It was discovered accidentally in 1967 at Hoechst AG.

Potassium Questions
Q. Can a potassium supplement be taken the same day as krill oil or the nutrient coq10?

A. I don't see why not. Potassium should not interfere with CoQ10, fish oils or krill oil.