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Potassium

What is potassium and what does it do?

Potassium is a mineral found in the foods you eat. It’s also an electrolyte. Electrolytes conduct electrical impulses throughout the body.

They assist in a range of essential body functions, including:

blood pressure

normal water balance

muscle contractions

nerve impulses

digestion

heart rhythm

pH balance (acidity and alkalinity)

Your body doesn’t produce potassium naturally. So, it’s important to consume the right balance of potassium-rich foods and beverages. The FDA has set the daily value (DV) for potassium at 4700 mg
Consuming too little potassium can lead to serious health issues. However, taking in too much can cause temporary or long-term health problems.
Healthy kidneys maintain normal potassium levels in the body because they remove excess amounts through urine.

How much potassium do I need?

The amount of potassium you need each day depends on your age and sex.
Average daily recommended amounts are listed below in milligrams (mg).

Age	RDA
Birth to 6 months	400 mg
Infants 7–12 months	860 mg
Children 1–3 years	2,000 mg
Children 4–8 years	2,300 mg
Children 9–13 years (boys)	2,500 mg
Children 9–13 years (girls)	2,300 mg
Teens 14–18 years (boys)	3,000 mg
Teens 14–18 years (girls)	2,300 mg
Adults 19+ years (men)	3,400 mg
Adults 19+ years (women)	2,600 mg
Pregnant teens	2,600 mg
Pregnant women	2,900 mg
Breastfeeding teens	2,500 mg
Breastfeeding women	2,800 mg

It’s also important not to get too much potassium. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises adults get no more than 4,700 mg daily.

Your kidneys play an important role in how much potassium your body maintains. In people with normal kidney function, excess potassium leaves the body when you urinate. But chronic kidney disease and some other health conditions can cause you to have too much or too little potassium — which can cause discomfort and potentially be life-threatening.

What foods provide potassium?

The most common source of potassium is from food.
Potassium-rich fruits include:

durian (1059 mg per cup)

guava (688 mg per cup)

kiwi fruit (562 mg per cup)

cantaloupe (473 mg per cup)

bananas (451 mg in one medium banana)

grapefruit (415 mg in one fruit)

fresh apricots (401 mg per 1 cup)

Fruit juices that are rich in potassium (Note: these amounts are for 100% juice) include:

prune juice (707 mg per cup)

carrot juice (689 mg per cup)

passion fruit juice (687 mg per cup)

pomegranate juice (533 mg per cup)

orange juice (496 mg per cup)

tangerine juice (440 mg per cup)

Potassium-rich vegetables include:

beet greens, cooked (1309 mg per cup)

Swiss chard, cooked (962 mg per cup)

potato, baked with skin (926 mg in one medium potato)

acorn squash (896 mg per cup)

spinach, cooked (839 mg per cup)

avocado (728 mg per cup)

Beans and other legumes that are high in potassium include:

adzuki beans, cooked (1224 mg per cup)

white beans, cooked (1004 mg per cup)

lima beans, cooked (939 mg per cup)

lentils, cooked (731 mg per cup)

kidney beans, canned (607 mg per cup)

Some high protein foods contain some amounts of potassium, such as:

chicken breast, grilled boneless (332 mg per 3 oz)

Atlantic salmon, farmed, cooked (326 mg per 3 oz)

beef, top sirloin, grilled (315 mg per 3 oz)

For low potassium levels, a doctor may prescribe the mineral in supplement form. If you have a severe deficiency, you may need intravenous (IV) treatment.

What forms of potassium medicines and supplements are available?

Potassium is found in many multivitamin/mineral supplements and in supplements that contain only potassium
How to Convert 20 mEq Potassium to Mg

Converting 20 mEq Potassium to Mg is a straightforward process. To convert, you can use the following formula:

(1 mEq Potassium = 39.1 mg Potassium)
20 mEq Potassium = 20 * 39.1 mg Potassium = 782 MG Potassium
By multiplying 20 Meq Potassium by 39.1 mg Potassium, you can determine the equivalent dosage in milligrams.

Potassium in prescription comes in many different forms

Potassium Citrate: is used to treat a kidney stone condition called renal tubular acidosis.

5 mEq, 10 mEq, 15 mEq, extended-release oral tablets

Potassium Bicarbonate: is used to prevent or to treat low blood levels of potassium (hypokalemia).

10 mEq, 20 mEq, 25 mEq, effervescent oral tablets

Potassium Chloride: is used to prevent or to treat low blood levels of potassium (hypokalemia).

8 mEq, 10 mEq extended-release oral capsules

8 mEq, 10 mEq, 15 mEq, 20 mEq extended-release oral tablets

Potassium in OTC comes in many different forms

Potassium Citrate: is used to treat a kidney stone condition called renal tubular acidosis.

Potassium Phosphate: is used to treat or prevent hypophosphatemia (low blood levels of phosphorus).

Potassium Aspartate: is a potassium supplement used to treat low blood levels of potassium (hypokalemia) or hyperammonemia

Potassium Bicarbonate: is used to prevent or to treat low blood levels of potassium (hypokalemia).

Potassium Gluconate: may be used to manage, prevent or treat low blood levels of potassium (hypokalemia).

Research has not shown that any form of potassium is better than the others. Most dietary supplements provide only small amounts of potassium, no more than 99 mg per serving.

Am I getting enough potassium?

The diets of many people in the United States provide less than recommended amounts of potassium. Even when food and dietary supplements are combined, total potassium intakes for most people are below recommended amounts.

Certain groups of people are more likely than others to have trouble getting enough potassium:

People with inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis)

People who use certain medications (such as laxatives or some diuretics)

People with pica (meaning that they eat things that aren’t food, such as clay)

Potassium deficiency

Certain conditions can cause potassium deficiencies, or hypokalemia.
These include:

kidney disease

overuse of diuretics

excessive sweating, diarrhea, and vomiting

magnesium deficiency

use of antibiotics, such as carbenicillin and penicillin

The symptoms of hypokalemia are different depending on how severe your deficiency is.
A temporary decrease in potassium may not cause any symptoms. For example, if you sweat a lot from a hard workout, your potassium levels may normalize after eating a meal or drinking electrolytes before any damage is done.
However, severe deficiencies can be life-threatening. Symptoms of a potassium deficiency include:

extreme fatigue

muscle spasms, weakness, or cramping

irregular heartbeat

constipation, nausea, or vomiting

Hypokalemia is usually diagnosed with a blood test. Your doctor may also order an electrocardiogram of your heart and an arterial blood gas test to measure pH levels in your body. Potassium overdose
Too much potassium can cause hyperkalemia. This is rare in people who eat balanced diets.
Risk factors for overdose include:

taking too many potassium supplements

kidney disease

prolonged exercise

cocaine use

potassium-conserving diuretics

chemotherapy

diabetes

severe burns

The most obvious symptom of too much potassium is an abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia). Severe cases can lead to death.
People with mild cases of high potassium rarely have noticeable symptoms. Your doctor should order occasional blood work if you have any risk factors.

What happens if I don’t get enough potassium?

Getting too little potassium can increase blood pressure, deplete calcium in bones, and increase the risk of kidney stones.

Prolonged diarrhea or vomiting, laxative abuse, diuretic use, eating clay, heavy sweating, dialysis, or using certain medications can cause severe potassium deficiency. In this condition, called hypokalemia, blood levels of potassium are very low. Symptoms of hypokalemia include constipation, tiredness, muscle weakness, and not feeling well. More severe hypokalemia can cause increased urination, decreased brain function, high blood sugar levels, muscle paralysis, difficulty breathing, and irregular heartbeat. Severe hypokalemia can be life threatening.

What are some effects of potassium on health?

Scientists are studying potassium to understand how it affects health. Here are some examples of what this research has shown.

High blood pressure and stroke

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke. People with low intakes of potassium have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, especially if their diet is high in salt (sodium). Increasing the amount of potassium in your diet and decreasing the amount of sodium might help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of stroke.
Kidney stones

Getting too little potassium can deplete calcium from bones and increase the amount of calcium in urine. This calcium can form hard deposits (stones) in your kidneys, which can be very painful. Increasing the amount of potassium in your diet might reduce your risk of developing kidney stones.
Bone health

People who have high intakes of potassium from fruits and vegetables seem to have stronger bones. Eating more of these foods might improve your bone health by increasing bone mineral density (a measure of bone strength).
Blood sugar control and type 2 diabetes

Low intakes of potassium might increase blood sugar levels. Over time, this can increase the risk of developing insulin resistance and lead to type 2 diabetes. However, more research is needed to fully understand whether potassium intakes affect blood sugar levels and the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Treating imbalanced potassium levels

There are different treatments for imbalanced potassium levels that depend on if your levels are too high or too low.
Hypokalemia (low)

Potassium supplements are usually the first course of action for levels that are too low. Supplements are mostly effective if your kidneys are in good shape.
Severe hypokalemia may require IV treatment, especially if you’re experiencing an abnormal heartbeat.
Potassium-sparing diuretics can rid the body of excess sodium. This will help normalize electrolyte levels. But, some diuretics and potassium supplements can be harsh on the digestive tract.
Ask a doctor for wax-coated pills to help prevent digestive issues. Only people with normal kidney function can use potassium-sparing diuretics. Learn more about hypokalemia
Hyperkalemia (high)

Mild cases of hyperkalemia can be treated with prescription medications that increase potassium excretion. Other methods include diuretics or an enema.
Severe cases may require more complex treatments. Kidney dialysis can remove potassium. This treatment is the preferred for cases of kidney failure.
For people with healthy kidneys, a doctor might recommend insulin and glucose. These help to transport potassium from the blood to cells for removal.
An albuterol inhaler can also lower dangerously high levels. Calcium gluconate may be used temporarily to stabilize the heart and reduce the risk of serious heart complications from hyperkalemia. What’s the outlook for imbalanced potassium levels?
Changes in body potassium may not be a concern if you don’t have risk factors. Healthy kidneys are often enough to regulate body potassium. Learn more about hyperkalemia
Medical conditions that affect levels should be monitored regularly. Call your doctor if you experience any unusual symptoms.

Can potassium be harmful?

Potassium from food and beverages has not been shown to cause any harm in healthy people who have normal kidney function. Excess potassium is eliminated in the urine.

However, people who have chronic kidney disease and those who use certain medications can develop abnormally high levels of potassium in their blood (a condition called hyperkalemia). Examples of these medications are angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, also known as ACE inhibitors, and potassium-sparing diuretics. Hyperkalemia can occur in these people even when they consume typical amounts of potassium from food.

Hyperkalemia can also develop in people with type 1 diabetes, congestive heart failure, liver disease, or adrenal insufficiency. Adrenal insufficiency is a condition in which the adrenal glands, located just above the kidneys, don’t produce enough of certain hormones.

Even in healthy people, getting too much potassium from supplements or salt substitutes can cause hyperkalemia if they consume so much potassium that their bodies can’t eliminate the excess.

People at risk of hyperkalemia should talk to their health care providers about how much potassium they can safely get from food, beverages, and supplements. The National Kidney Disease Education Program has information about food choices that can help lower potassium levels.

Does potassium interact with medications or dietary supplements?

Yes, some medications may interact with potassium. Here are a few examples.

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers

ACE inhibitors, such as benazepril (Lotensin), and angiotensin receptor blockers, such as losartan (Cozaar), are used to treat high blood pressure, heart disease, and kidney disease. They decrease the amount of potassium lost in the urine and can make potassium levels too high, especially in people who have kidney problems.
Potassium-sparing diuretics

Potassium-sparing diuretics, such as amiloride (Midamor) and spironolactone (Aldactone), are used to treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. These medications decrease the amount of potassium lost in the urine and can make potassium levels too high, especially in people who have kidney problems.
Loop and thiazide diuretics

Loop diuretics, such as furosemide (Lasix) and bumetanide (Bumex), and thiazide diuretics, such as chlorothiazide (Diuril) and metolazone (Zaroxolyn), are used to treat high blood pressure and edema. These medications increase the amount of potassium lost in the urine and can cause abnormally low levels of potassium.

Tell your doctor, pharmacist, and other health care providers about any dietary supplements and prescription or over-the-counter medicines you take. They can tell you if the dietary supplements might interact with your medicines or if the medicines might interfere with how your body absorbs, uses, or breaks down nutrients, such as potassium.

Potassium and healthful eating

People should get most of their nutrients from food and beverages, according to the federal government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Foods contain vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and other components that benefit health. In some cases, fortified foods and dietary supplements are useful when it is not possible to meet needs for one or more nutrients (for example, during specific life stages such as pregnancy).

What’s the outlook for imbalanced potassium levels?

Changes in body potassium may not be a concern if you don’t have risk factors. Healthy kidneys are often enough to regulate body potassium.

Medical conditions that affect levels should be monitored regularly. Call your doctor if you experience any unusual symptoms.

Takeaways

Potassium is important for your body, as it helps your heart, kidneys, and other organs work right. Usually, if you eat well, you'll get all the potassium you need, but some people might need more through supplements. Good natural sources of potassium include bananas, avocados, nuts, citrus fruits, veggies, milk, and potatoes.

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