Potassium in Biology - wikipedia Potassium in Biology Potassium is an essential mineral micronutrient and is the main intracellular ion for all types of cells, while having a major role in maintenance of fluid and electrolyte balance. Potassium is necessary for the function of all living cells, and is thus present in all plant and animal tissues. It is found in especially high concentrations within plant cells, and in a mixed diet, it is most highly concentrated in fruits. The high concentration of potassium in plants, associated with comparatively very low amounts of sodium there, historically resulted in potassium first being isolated from the ashes of plants ( potash ), which in turn gave the element its modern name. The high concentration of potassium in plants means that heavy crop production rapidly depletes soils of potassium, and agricultural fertilizers consume 93 % of the potassium chemical production of the modern world economy. The functions of potassium and sodium in living organisms are quite different. Animals, in particular, employ sodium and potassium differentially to generate electrical potentials in animal cells, especially in nervous tissue. Potassium depletion in animals, including humans, results in various neurological dysfunctions. Characteristic concentrations of potassium in model organisms are : 30 - 300mM in E. coli, 300mM in budding yeast, 100mM in mammalian cell and 4mM in blood plasma. Contents 1 Function in plants 2 Function in animals 3 Dietary recommendations 4 Food sources 5 Deficiency 5.1 High blood pressure / Hypertension 5.2 Hypokalemia 5.3 Insufficient intake 6 Side effects and toxicity 7 See also 8 References 9 External links Function in plants See also : Potassium deficiency ( plants ) Function in animals Potassium is the major cation ( positive ion ) inside animal cells, while sodium is the major cation outside animal cells. The difference between the concentrations of these charged particles causes a difference in electric potential between the inside and outside of cells, known as the membrane potential. The balance between potassium and sodium is maintained by ion transporters in the cell membrane. All potassium ion channels are tetramers with several conserved secondary structural elements. A number of potassium channel structures have been solved including voltage gated, ligand gated, tandem - pore, and inwardly rectifying channels, from prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The cell membrane potential created by potassium and sodium ions allows the cell to generate an action potential -- a `` spike '' of electrical discharge. The ability of cells to produce electrical discharge is critical for body functions such as neurotransmission, muscle contraction, and heart function. Dietary recommendations The U.S. Institute of Medicine ( IOM ) sets Estimated Average Requirements ( EARs ) and Recommended Dietary Allowances ( RDAs ), or Adequate Intakes ( AIs ) for when there is not sufficient information to set EARs and RDAs. Collectively the EARs, RDAs, AIs and ULs are referred to as Dietary Reference Intakes. The current AI for potassium for women and men ages 14 and up is 4700 mg. AI for pregnancy equals 4700 mg / day. AI for lactation equals 5100 mg / day. For infants 0 -- 6 months 400 mg, 6 -- 12 months 700 mg, 1 -- 13 years increasing from 3000 to 4500 mg / day. As for safety, the IOM also sets Tolerable upper intake levels ( ULs ) for vitamins and minerals, but for potassium the evidence was insufficient, so no UL established. The European Food Safety Authority ( EFSA ) refers to the collective set of information as Dietary Reference Values, with Population Reference Intake ( PRI ) instead of RDA, and Average Requirement instead of EAR. AI and UL defined the same as in United States. For people ages 15 and older the AI is set at 3,500 mg / day. AIs for pregnancy is 3,500 mg / day, for lactation 4,000 mg / day. For children ages 1 -- 14 years the AIs increase with age from 800 to 2,700 mg / day. These AIs are lower than the U.S. RDAs. The EFSA reviewed the same safety question and decided that there was insufficient data to establish a UL for potassium. For U.S. food and dietary supplement labeling purposes the amount in a serving is expressed as a percent of Daily Value ( % DV ). For potassium labeling purposes 100 % of the Daily Value was 3500 mg, but as of May 2016 it has been revised to 4700 mg. A table of the pre-change adult Daily Values is provided at Reference Daily Intake. Food and supplement companies have until July 2018 to comply with the change. Food sources Eating a variety of foods that contain potassium is the best way to get an adequate amount. Foods with high sources of potassium include kiwifruit, orange juice, potatoes, bananas, coconut, avocados, apricots, parsnips and turnips, although many other fruits, vegetables, legumes, and meats contain potassium. Common foods very high in potassium : beans ( white beans and others ), dark leafy greens ( spinach, Swiss chard, and others ), baked potatoes, dried fruit ( apricots, peaches, prunes, raisins ; figs and dates ), baked squash, yogurt, fish ( salmon ), avocado, and banana ; nuts ( pistachios, almonds, walnuts, etc. ) and seeds ( squash, pumpkin, sunflower ) The most concentrated foods ( per 100 grams ) are : dried herbs, sun dried tomatoes, dark chocolate, whey powder, paprika, yeast extract, rice bran, molasses, and dry roasted soybeans Deficiency High blood pressure / hypertension Diets low in potassium increase risk of hypertension, stroke and cardiovascular disease. Hypokalemia A severe shortage of potassium in body fluids may cause a potentially fatal condition known as hypokalemia. Hypokalemia typically results from loss of potassium through diarrhea, diuresis, or vomiting. Symptoms are related to alterations in membrane potential and cellular metabolism. Symptoms include muscle weakness and cramps, paralytic ileus, ECG abnormalities, intestinal paralysis, decreased reflex response and ( in severe cases ) respiratory paralysis, alkalosis and arrhythmia. In rare cases, habitual consumption of large amounts of black licorice has resulted in hypokalemia. Licorice contains a compound ( Glycyrrhizin ) that increases urinary excretion of potassium. Insufficient intake Adult women in the United States consume on average half the AI, for men two - thirds. For all adults, fewer than 5 % exceed the AI. Similarly, in the European Union, insufficient potassium intake is widespread. Side effects and toxicity Gastrointestinal symptoms are the most common side effects of potassium supplements, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea. Taking potassium with meals or taking a microencapsulated form of potassium may reduce gastrointestinal side effects. Hyperkalemia is the most serious adverse reaction to potassium. Hyperkalemia occurs when potassium builds up faster than the kidneys can remove it. It is most common in individuals with renal failure. Symptoms of hyperkalemia may include tingling of the hands and feet, muscular weakness, and temporary paralysis. The most serious complication of hyperkalemia is the development of an abnormal heart rhythm ( arrhythmia ), which can lead to cardiac arrest. Although hyperkalemia is rare in healthy individuals, oral doses greater than 18 grams taken at one time in individuals not accustomed to high intakes can lead to hyperkalemia. Supplements sold in the U.S. are supposed to contain no more than 99 mg of potassium per serving. See also Hypokalemia Hyperkalemia Action potential Membrane potential Electrolyte References Jump up ^ Pohl, Hanna R. ; Wheeler, John S. ; Murray, H. Edward ( 2013 ). `` Chapter 2. Sodium and Potassium in Health and Disease ''. In Astrid Sigel, Helmut Sigel and Roland K.O. Sigel. Interrelations between Essential Metal Ions and Human Diseases. Metal Ions in Life Sciences. 13. Springer. pp. 29 -- 47. doi : 10.1007 / 978 - 94 - 007 - 7500 - 8_2. Jump up ^ * Clausen, Michael Jakob Voldsgaard ; Poulsen, Hanne ( 2013 ). `` Chapter 3 Sodium / Potassium Homeostasis in the Cell ''. In Banci, Lucia ( Ed. ). Metallomics and the Cell. Metal Ions in Life Sciences. 12. Springer. doi : 10.1007 / 978 - 94 - 007 - 5561 - 1_3. ISBN 978 - 94 - 007 - 5560 - 4. 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Energy and Nutrient Intake in the European Union External links Brooks / Cole publishers -- Sodium Potassium pump Oregon State University -- Micronutrient Information Center Potassium at Lab Tests Online Potassium : analyte monograph - the Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine. High Potassium Foods Common for blood tests ( CPT 82000 -- 84999 ) Electrolytes Sodium Potassium Chloride Calcium Renal function Creatinine Urea BUN - to - creatinine ratio Plasma osmolality Serum osmolal gap Acid - base Anion gap Arterial blood gas Base excess Bicarbonate CO content Iron tests Ferritin Serum iron Transferrin saturation Total iron - binding capacity Transferrin Transferrin receptor Hormones ACTH stimulation test Thyroid function tests Thyroid - stimulating hormone Metabolism Blood lipids Cardiovascular Cardiac marker Troponin test CPK - MB test Lactate dehydrogenase Myoglobin Glycogen phosphorylase isoenzyme BB Liver function tests Proteins Human serum albumin Serum total protein ALP transaminases ALT AST AST / ALT ratio Bilirubin Unconjugated Conjugated Pancreas Amylase Lipase Pancreatic lipase Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Potassium_in_biology&oldid=850585702 '' Categories : Potassium Biology and pharmacology of chemical elements Hidden categories : CS1 maint : Extra text : editors list Webarchive template wayback links Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 16 July 2018, at 19 : 53 ( UTC ). 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Question: where does potassium come from in the body
Answer: Eating a variety of foods that contain potassium