Levels Of Dietary Potassium Research Articles

Influence of Dietary Potassium on Chick Growth, Food Consumption and Blood and Tissue Composition

DIETARY potassium levels of 1,700 (Ben Dor, 1941) and 2,000 to 2,400 p.p.m. (Gillis, 1948) have been reported as necessary for maximal growth in White Leghorn chicks. Leach et al. (1959) found that male, broiler-type chicks required 2,000 p.p.m. potassium to prevent excessive mortality and 3,000 p.p.m. for optimum growth. The potassium requirement of the chick has been shown to be influenced by growth rate (Burns et al., 1953), protein and energy content of the diet (Leach et al., 1959) and by the phosphorus content of the diet (Gillis, 1948).Potassium deficiency symptoms in the young chick have been reported by Gillis (1948) to include retarded growth and feed consumption, weakness, loss of use of legs and excretion of large amounts of ureates. Death was preceded or accompanied by tetanic seizures in which the muscles were unable to relax. It was reported that the chick maintained an active interest in…

SOME EFFECTS OF DIETARY POTASSIUM UPON DIGESTIBILITY, SERUM ELECTROLYTES AND UTILIZATION OF POTASSIUM, SODIUM, NITROGEN AND WATER IN HEIFERS

Balance studies were conducted with heifers weighing between 210–258 kg to determine effects of different dietary potassium levels, 156.6 (low), 439.4 (medium) and 1,086.8 (high) meq upon nutrient utilization. The low potassium ration produced an average negative potassium balance of 25.2 meq daily, while the other rations produced positive potassium balances. Urinary potassium excretion was markedly affected by potassium level while fecal potassium excretion was much less affected: in general, the higher the potassium intake, the higher the urinary and fecal potassium excretions. All heifers were in positive sodium balance and dietary level of potassium did not significantly influence either urinary or fecal excretion of sodium. Nitrogen balance was not significantly affected by treatment, but urinary ammonia excretion was significantly (P < 0.01) higher when the low potassium ration was fed. Water consumption and urine volume were significantly (P < 0.01) higher for the heifers fed high potassium, but water balance was not affected. Apparent digestibilities of energy, dry matter, nitrogen, crude fiber and ether extract were not significantly affected by treatment.Serum potassium levels were lower (P < 0.05) and phosphorus higher (P < 0.05) in heifers receiving the low than in heifers receiving the high level of potassium. Serum concentrations of sodium, chloride, calcium and magnesium were not significantly affected by dietary potassium.From the data, the potassium requirement for maintenance of the heifers was estimated to be 133 meq potassium daily per 100 kg body weight.

The Effects of Varying Dietary Potassium on the Electrocardiogram and Blood Electrolytes in Young Dogs

This research is concerned with the effects of varying the dietary levels of potassium on body weight, blood electrolytes, electrocardiogram in young dog. Dogs were fed purified diets containing varying levels of potassium salts.(1) Diet-induced potassium deficiency in dogs resulted in lowered weight gain.(2) The degree of development of the electrocardiographic changes were in general parallel to the levels in the serum potassium. When serum potassium levels decreased to 4.0mEq./L. or less, the T wave was usually decreased in height or inverted, the U wave in left precordial lead was frequently seen, ST segment slightly depressed, and P-R and Q -T intervals were rarely prolonged.(3) When serum potassium levels rose above 6.0mEq./L. the T wave was consistently peaked and increased in height, especially in lead VL. However, these levels did not rise above 6.2mEq./L. On the other hand, potassium concentration in feces of high potassium diet group increased at same time.(4) Arrhythmias sometimes appeared in hypo-and hyperpotassemia.(5) Within 3 to 8 weeks most of potassium deficient dogs developed paralysis of legs.

Interactions of dietary sodium and potassium and their influence on energy metabolism.

A factorial design consisting of sodium (0.23 and 0.004%) superimposed on three levels of dietary potassium (0.002, 0.02, and 0.44%) was used. Energy utilization, body composition, activity, basal metabolism, body water compartments, and concentrations of sodium and potassium therein were studied in rats fed these rations. A large number of interactions between dietary Na and K were shown; the effect of either Na or K deficiency is dependent on the level of the other in the diet. Efficiency of energy utilization was lowered by a deficiency of either mineral. A slight reduction of basal energy metabolism was found in rats fed the low-sodium rations, whereas low-potassium rations had no significant effect. The decreased efficiency of energy utilization with low-sodium rations were attributed, at least partly, to increased activity. The multiple regression of basal metabolic rate on the concentrations of plasma Na, plasma K, intracellular Na, and intracellular K was found to be highly significant but no causative relationship is inferred.

Response of the Young Pig to Levels of Dietary Potassium

Response of the Young Pig to Levels of Dietary Potassium