Human Nutrition 3(3+0)

Lesson 40 : Potassium

Functions

The functions of potassium include:

• balances body fluids, regulates nervous and muscular irritability.
• helps control convulsions, headaches and migraines, promotes faster healing of cuts, bruises and other injuries and generally contributes to a sense of well being.
• an essential constituent of ECF(extra cellular fluid). Though the level is small (20 mg/100 ml) it influences the activity of muscle
• regulates water balance and assists recuperative powers.
• essential for growth and build up of tissues, as every 6.25 g. tissue protein synthesized is accompanied by retention of 117 mg of K in the tissues,
• essential for the synthesis of glycogen. Every one gram of glycogen synthesized is accompanied by retention of 14 mg K
• for normal muscular contraction (potassium is lost from the muscle into the ECF and during the recovery phase, potassium ions are withdrawn by the muscle cells from the ECF).