Changes

==Roles in the Body==

==Roles in the Body==

'''Potassium within cells interacts with [[Sodium - Nutrition|sodium]] outside cells to form a concentration gradient that maintains acid-base balance and facilitates electrical and chemical activity'''. This accounts for its importance in nerve impulses and muscle contraction and its role in normal cardiac function. It is also involved in protein synthesis and the uptake of [[Amino Acids Overview - Nutrition|amino acids]]. The trans-cellular potassium-sodium gradient is actively maintained by an energy-dependent system that drives cellular pumps responsible for the transport of potassium and sodium ions.

'''Potassium within cells interacts with [[Sodium - Nutrition|sodium]] outside cells to form a concentration gradient that maintains [[Essential Ion and Compound Balance and Homeostasis - Anatomy & Physiology|acid base balance]] and facilitates electrical and chemical activity'''. This accounts for its importance in nerve impulses and muscle contraction and its role in normal cardiac function. It is also involved in protein synthesis and the uptake of [[Amino Acids Overview - Nutrition|amino acids]]. The trans-cellular potassium-sodium gradient is actively maintained by an energy-dependent system that drives cellular pumps responsible for the transport of potassium and sodium ions.

==Consequences of Dietary Potassium Deficiency==

==Consequences of Dietary Potassium Deficiency==

Naturally-occurring dietary potassium deficiency is rare in dogs and most studies that have investigated low levels have used specially designed diets.   

Naturally-occurring dietary potassium deficiency is rare in dogs and most studies that have investigated low levels have used specially designed diets.   

====Recognised Syndromes Related to Potassium Deficiency====

====Recognised Syndromes Related to Potassium Deficiency====

#'''Paralysis and poor growth''': Puppies fed a very low level of potassium (0.01% on a dry matter basis – DM) grew very poorly and within a few weeks developed clinical signs including paralysis of the neck muscles and of the rear legs<ref>Ruegamer, W, Elvehjem, Hart, E (1946). “Potassium deficiency in the dog”. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 61:234-238.</ref>. Increasing the dietary potassium to 0.34% DM ameliorated the adverse effects.   

#'''Paralysis and poor growth''': Puppies fed a very low level of potassium (0.01% on a [[Nutrition Glossary#Dry Matter Basis|dry matter basis]] – DM) grew very poorly and within a few weeks developed clinical signs including paralysis of the neck muscles and of the rear legs<ref>Ruegamer, W, Elvehjem, Hart, E (1946). “Potassium deficiency in the dog”. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 61:234-238.</ref>. Increasing the dietary potassium to 0.34% DM ameliorated the adverse effects.   

#'''[[Hypokalaemia]]''': Feeding adult bitches a diet containing 0.006% DM potassium did not result in detectable hypokalaemia nor were clinical signs associated with hypokalaemia seen; however, there were decreases in [[Blood Pressure|blood pressure]], cardiac output, stroke volume and renal blood flow. A dietary potassium of 0.45% DM resulted in no detected abnormality<ref>Abbrecht, P (1972). “Cardiovascular effects of chronic potassium deficiency in the dog”. Am. J. Physiol. 223:555-560.</ref>.

#'''[[Hypokalaemia]]''': Feeding adult bitches a diet containing 0.006% DM potassium did not result in detectable hypokalaemia nor were clinical signs associated with hypokalaemia seen; however, there were decreases in [[Blood Pressure|blood pressure]], cardiac output, stroke volume and renal blood flow. A dietary potassium of 0.45% DM resulted in no detected abnormality<ref>Abbrecht, P (1972). “Cardiovascular effects of chronic potassium deficiency in the dog”. Am. J. Physiol. 223:555-560.</ref>.

====Recognised Syndromes Related to Dietary Potassium Deficiency====

====Recognised Syndromes Related to Dietary Potassium Deficiency====

#'''Paralysis and poor growth''': Kittens fed a 33% protein diet with 0.1 or 0.2% potassium or a 68% protein with 0.3 or 0.4% potassium (all on DM basis) developed clinical signs very similar to those seen in puppies: anorexia, retarded growth and neurological disorders that started with the neck muscles and progressed to ataxia and muscle weakness. The latter was so severe that the kittens were unable to walk<ref name="Hills"/>. Clinical signs of potassium deficiency have also been reported in kittens fed a vegetarian diet containing potassium at 0.08 or 0.11% DM, whereas a dietary content of 0.5% was satisfactory<ref>Leon, A, Bain, S, Levick, W (1992). “Hypokalaemic episodic polymyopathy in cats fed a vegetarian diet. Aust. Vet. J. 69:249-254.</ref>.

#'''Paralysis and poor growth''': Kittens fed a 33% protein diet with 0.1 or 0.2% potassium or a 68% protein with 0.3 or 0.4% potassium (all on DM basis) developed clinical signs very similar to those seen in puppies: anorexia, retarded growth and neurological disorders that started with the neck muscles and progressed to ataxia and muscle weakness. The latter was so severe that the kittens were unable to walk<ref name="Hills"/>. Clinical signs of potassium deficiency have also been reported in kittens fed a vegetarian diet containing potassium at 0.08 or 0.11% DM, whereas a dietary content of 0.5% was satisfactory<ref>Leon, A, Bain, S, Levick, W (1992). “Hypokalaemic episodic polymyopathy in cats fed a vegetarian diet. Aust. Vet. J. 69:249-254.</ref>.

#'''Hypokalaemia''': In two studies Dow et al.<ref>Dow, S, Fettman, M, LeCouteur, R, Hamar, D (1987). “Potassium depletion in cats: renal and dietary influences”. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assn. 191:1569-1575.</ref><ref>Dow, S, Fettman, M, Smith, K, Hamar, D, Nagode, L, Refsal, K, Wilke, W (1990). “Effects of dietary acidification and potassium depletion on acid-base balance, mineral metabolism and renal function in adult cats”. J. Nutr. 120:569-578.</ref>, reported that adult cats showed signs of hypokalaemia when fed levels of 0.34% or 0.2% DM, which gradually disappeared with a dietary potassium concentration of 0.65% DM.

#'''Hypokalaemia''': In two studies Dow et al.<ref>Dow, S, Fettman, M, LeCouteur, R, Hamar, D (1987). “Potassium depletion in cats: renal and dietary influences”. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assn. 191:1569-1575.</ref><ref>Dow, S, Fettman, M, Smith, K, Hamar, D, Nagode, L, Refsal, K, Wilke, W (1990). “Effects of dietary acidification and potassium depletion on [[Essential Ion and Compound Balance and Homeostasis - Anatomy & Physiology|acid base balance]], mineral metabolism and renal function in adult cats”. J. Nutr. 120:569-578.</ref>, reported that adult cats showed signs of hypokalaemia when fed levels of 0.34% or 0.2% DM, which gradually disappeared with a dietary potassium concentration of 0.65% DM.

==Toxicity==

==Toxicity==

==References==

==References==

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<references/>

[[Category:Minerals in Nutrition]]

[[Category:Minerals in Nutrition]]