glenm@athena.UUCP (Glen McCluskey) (02/26/86)
The typical person is estimated to need a few thousand milligrams of potassium a day. The largest supplements I have seen contain about 100 milligrams, I think due to the irritating effect potassium has on the stomach and intestines. I have read various places that one should not take more than about one of these tables at a time. Given this, is this form of supplement of any value, assuming that a person has a known deficiency? It seems like the supplement is such a small percentage of the need that it is not worth it. Glen McCluskey ..tektronix!athena!glenm
dyer@spdcc.UUCP (Steve Dyer) (02/28/86)
In article <7@athena.UUCP>, glenm@athena.UUCP (Glen McCluskey) writes: > The typical person is estimated to need a few thousand > milligrams of potassium a day. The largest supplements > I have seen contain about 100 milligrams, I think due to > the irritating effect potassium has on the stomach and > intestines. I have read various places that one should > not take more than about one of these tables at a time. > > Given this, is this form of supplement of any value, assuming > that a person has a known deficiency? It seems like the > supplement is such a small percentage of the need that > it is not worth it. Most people who eat a balanced diet get all the potassium they need. For those people who have a medically proven deficiency of potassium which requires more agressive treatment than dietary means, supplements providing sufficient amounts of the ion are available on prescription in both liquid and tablet forms. The liquid forms are generally thought to be an acquired taste, and many people refuse liquid potassium therapy. The older enteric-coated tablets of potassium were withdrawn from the market because of the incidence of ulcerations of the GI tract. The newer tablets contain potassium salts in a wax matrix, leading to slower delivery of the ion within the gut, with the intention of lowering the incidence of GI irritation and ulceration. Nevertheless, cases of ulceration have still been reported with such preparations. Potassium can have potent and possibly fatal effects on the heart if taken to excess. This is why, along with the aforementioned irritant effects, potassium supplements in any physiologic dosage are limited to being sold on a doctor's prescription. Even with this, hyperkalemia (excessive levels of K+ in the blood) is one of the most frequent causes of iatrogenic (treatment-induced) morbidity and mortality in the US (it isn't even easy for doctors to get it right!) Potassium deficiency is very very rare unless one is being treated with certain diuretics like thiazides. Even that can be tricky, because some non-thiazide diuretics actually conserve K+, meaning that adding extra K+ through supplements is asking for trouble. Of course, any reputable doctor wouldn't combine the two, but often such patients are being treated by several doctors, and the pharmacist may or may not catch such instances of polypharmacy. -- Steve Dyer dyer@harvard.HARVARD.EDU {bbncca,bbnccv,harvard}!spdcc!dyer
hsf@hlexa.UUCP (Henry Friedman) (03/01/86)
>.... > Given this, is this form of supplement of any value, assuming > that a person has a known deficiency? It seems like the > supplement is such a small percentage of the need that > it is not worth it. When potassium supplements are prescribed (versus over-the-counter), as when taking diuretics, they come in dosages of from about 500 to 2000 mg (5 to 20 mil eq, I believe). The strongest, K-LOR, is given in powdered form and is taken mixed with liquids. Others, such as SLO-K are in time-release form to reduce irritation. K-TABS, 1000 mg, come in a patented film-pack caplet to control the time-release. (I'm a patient, not a physician) --Henry Friedman
werner@aecom.UUCP (Craig Werner) (03/02/86)
I don't know where people come up with these astronomically high
numbers for supplements, but concerning Potassium supplements, there is
something I've been wanting to post.
Most supplements have been associated with irritation of the GI
wall, some more than others, so there has always been a tradeoff between
hypokalemia and potassium-induced intestinal hemorrhage. For patients on
anti-arrythmics, the balance is well towards Giving Potassium.
However, the best Potassium supplements -- with the least number of
side effects are one of the following.
1. 1-2 Bananas /day.
2. 1-2 Glass of Fresh-squeezed orange juice /day.
(or one of each, I suppose)
This will provide more Potassium than even persons on Potassium wasting
diuretics can excrete, and is not associated with any intestinal bleeding.
--
Craig Werner
!philabs!aecom!werner
"...if that's the hand you use, well, nevermind..."