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==

====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==