Requirements of potassium in human body

Potassium is the major intracellular solute and is critical for many physiological functions. The concentration of potassium in the body is 2 g/kg. At a concentration of 140 mmol/L, it is the most common cation in the intracellular fluid.

Potassium is localized mostly within the cells. It regulates the osmotic pressure within the cells, is involved in cell membrane transport and also in the activation of a number of glycolytic and respiratory enzymes.

Dried apricots

Humans require an average daily intake of 2700 to 3500 mg potassium to maintain adequate total body potassium balance (National Research Council, 1989).

The Canadian Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) for potassium is 70 mg per day per kilogram of body weight; the US Committee on RDA has set minimum potassium requirements at 2000 mg per day, with levels between 1875 and 5625 mg considered ‘safe and adequate daily intake’. Intake is high in fruits, vegetables and grain and conversely, high-fat diets contain small of potassium.

Potassium deficiency is associated with a number of symptoms and may be a result of undernourishment or predominant consumption of potassium-deficient foods, e.g., white bread, fat or oil.
Requirements of potassium in human body

Vitamin B of Thiamin

The B vitamins are water soluble. Thiamin or vitamin B1, the structural formula consists of a pyrimidine ring and a thiazole moiety linked by a methylene (CH2) bridge.

Thiamin is essential for proper energy production in every cell of the body but especially in the heart and brain. This vitamin is involved in all bodily oxidations that lead to the formation of carbon dioxide. It is necessary for nerve function, appetite, and normal digestion. It is also required for growth, fertility, and lactation.

The need for thiamin was first realized in the late 1800s, by Dutchman, C. Eijkman, when it was discovered that fowl fed diet of cooked, polished rice developed neurologic problems.

The symptoms of vitamin deficiency are retardation of growth, palpitation and enlargement of the heart, and hypertension. Severe efficiency was discovered as the cause of a syndrome known as beri-beri.

Thiamin

The various effects of a disturbance of the nerve centers such as forgetfulness or difficulty in thinking are other manifestations of vitamin B1 deficiency.

The vitamin is often lacking in the diet because much of the naturally occurring amounts of it in food are destroyed during the processing of the food.

Thiamin is widely distributed in foods, including meat (especially pork), legumes and whole, fortified or enriched grain products, cereals and breads.

Yeasts, wheat germ and soy milk also contain significant amounts of the vitamin.

The RDA for adult men aged 19 years and older is 1.2 mgs; for adult women of the same age, the RDA is 1.1 mgs per day.

Thiamin intake recommendations are 1.4 mgs per day during pregnancy and 1.5 mgs per day during lactation.
Vitamin B of Thiamin