A Study of the Effects of Excessive Potassium Intake upon Body Potassium Stores1

Abstract

There is extensive evidence that provision of potassium as well as sodium may be of vital importance in the treatment of a wide variety of metabolically disturbed patients (1-3). Physicians sometimes are hesitant to administer potassium, however, because they are concerned that such therapy may result in potassium intoxication.The present studies were undertaken in an effort to gather information which would facilitate considerations of this problem.Specifically, the aims of this study were threefold: The first was to determine the upper limit of potassium intake compatible with body potassium homeostasis.

Potassium-Escape-Phenomenon in Rats during Continuous Application of Amiloride

“…Since serum and tissue potassium levels were higher in the rats pretreated with a 0.5-or a 1.0-percent potassium diet than in the animals kept on a low potassium diet, these elevated levels may influence the potassiumescape-phenomenon. However, not all differences were statistically sig nificant (similar results were published by Drescher et al [1]) and we do not know the potassium content of the distal tubular cells which are mostly responsible for potassium secretion into the urine [2].…”

An extrarenal mechanism of potassium adaptation

“…In 1940, Miller and Darrow (14) maintained a group of rats on a 2% potassium chloride diet for 24-51 days and found that although plasma potassium levels were normal, muscle potassium was somewhat reduced. Drescher, Talbot, Meara, Terry, and Crawford (15) noted that the potassium content of heart was at or below the lower limit of normal in rats fed a diet very high in potassium. Plasma potassium concentration was elevated in these rats.…”

Blood Volume Regulation

“…(93,195). Large potassium loads are rapidly excreted (196). Though potas sium deficiency may result in a number of alterations in renal function, potas sium is efficiently retained (197,198) .…”