Potassium and the Baby Boomers
Potassium is quite possibly the most vital dietary mineral used in the body to help in electrical and cellular functions. Functions that include skeletal, cardiac and muscle contraction. Some of the body systems affected include normal heart action, the digestive system and muscular function.
The mineral exist in the body as a dietary mineral in the form of an electrolyte. Electrolytes exist in the blood as acids, bases, and salts and allow electrical charges to travel back and forth across the cell membranes. Ideally, there should be a delicate balance of primarily potassium on the inside and sodium on the outside of the cell body. Sodium is much easier to intake and keep than potassium so normal body functions depend on a greater intake of potassium to maintain the correct balance.
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While there are several other minerals that play an important role in aging baby boomers health, the deficiency or more importantly, the balance between dietary potassium and sodium has an important part in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases and conditions.
The mineral plays a part in the prevention of such conditions as stroke and high blood pressure, osteoporosis and kidney stones and in the treatment of asthma and inflammatory bowel diseases.
How does it help prevent stroke
Scientists believe that high blood pressure is one of the major factors for stroke. Dietary potassium intake helps to lower blood pressure in part by allowing the blood vessels to stay pliable which in turn permits them to dilate easily. It also enhances sodium excretion and lowers the vascular systems reactivity to body chemicals which constrict the blood vessels. A report in the Journal of the American Heart Association, September, 1998 showed that one gram of the mineral per day in someone who still has high blood pressure reduces the risk of stroke by 60%.
How does it help prevent osteoporosis
Baby boomers, especially women, age 50 and over are at risk to the beginnings of osteoporosis. It affects an estimated 44 million Americans. In a recent study by the Osteoporosis Center at UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion, a group of postmenopausal women were placed on a low salt and then high salt diet regimen. Some were given potassium and some a placebo while calcium and NTX, a bone protein, excretion was measured. Those taking the potassium exhibited much less loss of both calcium and NTX. The dosage used in the test was 3.5 grams daily.
How does it help prevent kidney stones
Dietary potassium, especially in the citrate form, is a natural alkali. Our diets are typically too high in acidic foods and this tends to lower the body's ph. This in turn causes the body to pull alkaline calcium from the bones to off set the high levels of acid. This results in bone loss. It also means there is an increase of calcium excreted in the urine. An excess excretion of calcium can also mean the development of kidney stones. The mineral, then, acts as a ph balance for our body's system.
How does it help in the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
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Excerpts from the study Total body potassium depletion and the need for preoperative nutritional support in Chrohn's disease. K Lehr, O Schober, H Hundeshagen, and R Pichlmayr; Ann Surg. 1982 Dec;196(6):709-14. state the following case for the need in the treatment of IBD. Quote: 'Significant intracellular potassium depletion was documented in 57 patients with Crohn's disease by measurements of total body potassium, body water compartments, and red cell Na,K-ATPase units....Treatment before surgery to improve individual body potassium content resulted in a reduced surgical mortality and complication rate....In conclusion, preoperative nutritional support in Crohn's disease is recommended for patients with a total body potassium level less than 70% of normal.'
Other areas of interest that involve potassium intake and proper levels, are atherosclerosis, diabetes, cataracts, dehydration and hepatitis. The best way to maintain proper levels of the mineral to counteract these conditions is to have a diet of foods high in potassium. Supplements of proper type and quantity are also a good source but generally considered secondary and usually under a professionals advice.
Two conditions that describe elevated or low levels of the mineral is hyperkalemia and hypokalemia. Hyperkalemia is the condition that shows elevated blood levels of the mineral. The more common of the two is hypokalemia. It refers to the condition in which the blood levels of the mineral is low. Common causes are perhaps not getting enough from your diet, digestive problems, hormonal disorders and some drugs.
Medications associated with hypokalemia are decongestants, diuretics, high-dose antibiotics and other agents such as caffeine. Adequate amounts of other minerals such as sodium and magnesium are also needed to maintain normal levels. The normal percentage found in the blood is usually about two percent.
The richest sources are fruits and vegetables such as spinach, Swiss chard, broccoli, banana and cantaloupe. Of course the list for foods high in potassium is much larger and may include potatoes, tomatoes and orange juice as well as many others. The Institute of Medicine at the National Academy of Sciences has issued the Adequate Intake level as being 4.7 grams/day for adults. Many agree that the normal potassium intake for most adults, especially aging baby boomers, falls below that recommendation and averages at about 1,500 to 2,100 milligrams per day.
Specific to the Baby Boomers
Stroke may be prevented by lowering blood pressure, enhancing sodium excretion and lowering the vascular systems reactivity to body chemicals that constrict the blood vessels.
High blood pressure may be lowered by it actions on the vascular system.
Osteoporosis by allowing less excretion of calcium and NTX, a bone protein.
Kidney stones may be prevented by the mineral acting as an alkali agent, neutralizing the body causing less calcium excretion through the kidneys.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease may be treated with potassium nutritional support to strengthen cellular activity.
Other areas of studies in prevention and treatment concerning atherosclerosis, diabetes, cataracts, dehydration and hepatitis have shown promise.
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