ROLE OF POTASSIUM IN OUR BODY

Introduction

Potassium is necessary for the human body mainly in all tissue cells. It is found in the extracellular fluid.

Potassium also helps muscles to contract and support normal blood pressure.

Source of Potassium

Potassium is easily available in foods. 

Good sources of potassium are:

Meat

Poultry 

Fish

Milk

Curd

Rich source of potassium are:

Whole-grain cereals

Pulses

Banana

Potatoes

Tomatoes

Carrot

Celery

Orange

Grapes

Chiku

Custard apple

Function of Potassium

Our body contains approximately 2.6 gm of potassium per kg of our body weight, and perform the following functions:

1. Potassium is an obligatory component of all cells, hence, the greater the number of cells, the more is the increase in potassium.

2. Potassium is required for the maintenance of osmotic pressure and fluid balance within the cell. Sodium is found to perform the same function in extracellular fluid.

3. Potassium is required for enzymatic reactions which take place within the cell. Some potassium is bound to phosphate in the process of formation of glucose to glycogen. When glycogen is broken down to glucose, potassium is released.

4. However small the concentration of potassium in the ECF, it is required to transmit nerve impulses and for muscle fibres, along with other ions.

Deficiency of Potassium

Low blood potassium levels lead to potassium deficiency also known as HYPOKALEMIA. Normal blood potassium level are typically range of 3.5-5.0 mmol/L. Among the many causes of hypokalemia are diarrhoea, chronic kidney disease, folic acid deficiency, excessive sweating and use of diuretic. Potassium deficiency symptoms are often mild may include nausea, muscles cramps, bloating, constipation and depression.

Excess of Potassium

When there is too much potassium in the blood, it is called high potassium, or HYPERKALEMIA. Increase in blood potassium can be caused by dehydration, kidney-disease, uncontrolled diabetes and excessive bleeding. Under normal dietary intake, potassium deficiency does not occur. But it may occur in instances of severe malnutrition, chronic alcoholism, anorexia nervosa, low carbohydrate diets and in weight reduction regimes in which food intake is restricted.

Conclusion

From above blog we conclude that potassium is one of the very important mineral for our body. If there is a deficiency or excess of potassium in body that leads to severe health problems. We should take care of our diet so that the normal potassium level should maintain in our body.