Potassium deficiency effects

In plants, the meristematic tissues in general are particularly rich in potassium, as are other metabolically active regions, such as buds, young leaves, and ioot tips. Potassium deficiency may produce both gross and microscopic changes in the structure of plants. Effects of deficiency reported include leaf damage, high or low water content of leaves, decreased photosynthesis, disturbed carbohydrate metabolism, low protein content and other abnormalities. 

Hirata, H., Hisaka, H. Hirata, A. (1982). Effects of phosphorus and potassium deficiency treatment on root secretion of wheat and rice seedlings. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 28, 543-52. 

The question of the increase in probability of the appearance of carcinomas in the colon following long-term administration of anthracene drugs has not yet been fully clarified. Recent studies show no connections between the administration of anthracene drugs and the frequency of carcinomas in the colon. Potassium deficiency can cause an increase in the effect of cardiac glycosides. 

Drugs that are also known to decrease potassium levels, such as glucocorticoids and digoxin, should be avoided by anyone taking potassium-depleting diuretics. If they are prescribed, a physician should closely monitor the potassium levels of the patient. Potassium deficiency, or hypokalemia, can cause serious and potentially dangerous side effects (see Harmful side effects section). 

This effect was noted only for experiments where a small amount of the KAlSi04 phase remained and where a potassium-deficient surface glaze acted as a diffusion barrier to vaporization. Representative vapor pressure data for "normal" behavior in this system are summarized in Table II. 

The loss of potassium caused by diuretics is their most intensively debated adverse effect, and the extent and significance of the problem has long been disputed. The effect of diuretics on potassium balance and their chnical consequences have been reviewed extensively (50-52,65,100-102). The risks of diuretic-induced hypokalemia have been greatly exaggerated (50,65,102). A fall in plasma potassium is common, but sound studies have consistently showed that diuretics do not deplete body potassium or cause potassium deficiency during longterm therapy in hypertensive patients (50). 

Ingestion of toxic doses of barium affects the muscles, especially the heart. Barium has a digitalis-type effect on the heart. Ventricular fibrillation and slowed pulse rate are noted. This may be related to barium s tendency to displace potassium the resulting potassium deficiency causes muscle weakness. 

Licorice is approved by the German Commission E to treat peptic ulcer, in doses of 200-600 mg glycyrrhizin daily (Blumenthal, 1998). They also recommend that treatment not exceed 6 wk because of the known side effects of licorice. It is recommended that patients with cardiovascular or renal disease use licorice only under the care of a physician. Patients prone to potassium deficiency are also advised not use licorice. 

C. E. Hartt, Effect of Potassium Deficiency upon Translocation of C on Attached Blades and Entire Plant of Sugar Cane, Plant Physiol. 44, 1461-1469 (1969). 

But to return to the year 1937. In those days the field of electrolyte physiology was dominated by the ideas of two Germans, Mond and Netter. According to their notions, cells are permeable to K+ but not to Na+ and are impermeable to anions. I produced evidence in Dr. Fenn s laboratory which contradicted this theory. The experiments were as follows. I took advantage of my experience in working with potassium-deficient rats and I investigated the electrolytes of the musr s of these animals and studied the effect of muscular contraction. To my surprise I found that the muscles of potassium-deprived rats were richer in sodium than in potassium, quite the reverse of the usual situation. Upon stimulation, there occurred the usual loss of potassium so that the K/Na ratio became distorted even more. Clearly this excess of sodium could not be accommodated in the... 

Weed competition for water and nutrients can have similar effects on fruit quality as described above for fertilisation. For example, if weed competition is completely prevented by chemosynthetic herbicides in conventional production, this can lead to excess supply of certain mineral nutrients, in particular nitrogen and potassium, which in turn results in reduced sensory quality and shelf-life (Section 16.2.2). On the other hand, excessive weed competition, in particular, during the pre-bloom phase and the end of the first shoot growth period (Gut and Weibel, 2005), can induce nutrient and/or water deficiency and a risk of quality loss. 

Oral exposure to cyanide usually results from accidental, homicidal, or suicidal ingestion of cyanide salts. Sodium cyanide and potassium cyanide are the most frequently studied cyanide compounds. Copper cyanide, potassium silver cyanide, silver cyanide, and calcium cyanide are other compounds that humans could encounter through oral or dermal exposure. Cassava roots and certain fruit pits contain compounds that can be broken down to form cyanide. Cassava roots form the staple diet of some populations in Africa, Central and South America, and Asia. However, it must be noted that cassava roots are notoriously deficient in protein and other nutrients and contain many other compounds, in addition to cyanide, that could be responsible for some of the observed toxic effects. Thiocyanate is a metabolite of cyanide that is formed in the body after exposure to cyanide compounds. When possible, all oral exposures are expressed as mg CN/kg/day. 

Il.f.l.1. Insulins. Insulin is the most effective of diabetes medications. Insulin has profound effects on carbohydrate, protein, fat metabolism and electrolytes. It has anabolic and anticatabolic actions. In a state of insulin deficiency, glycogenesis, glucose transport, protein synthesis, triglyceride synthesis, LPL activity in adipose tissue, cellular potassium uptake all decrease on the other hand, gluconeogene-sis, glycogenolysis, protein degradation, ketogene-sis, lipolysis increase. 

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