What causes a deficiency of potassium in the body?
The possibilities are: • Reduced intake – this happens in starvation or in a K+ deficient diet, as in the case of individuals with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Increased intestinal loss can occur from chronic diarrhoea and excess vomiting and from use of certain medications such as diuretics, cortisone and laxatives. • Increased loss through the kidneys – this happens in most forms of renal failure and diabetic acidosis. Treating a dehydrated person after trauma without K+ supplementation can dilute the existing potassium in the body and in terms of concentration would result in its deficiency. . • Increased loss through the GI tract – diarrhoea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal problems may rapidly reduce potassium. Infants with diarrhea must be watched closely for low blood potassium, termed hypokalemia. Diabetes and renal disease may cause low as well as high potassium levels. • Treatment of normal fluid loss without K+ supplements – Several dru
