Older persons often take more medications than other age groups, and these medications can also alter the potassium levels within the body. The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine recommends that seniors have a diet of at least 4.7 grams of potassium each day.
Adults should consume about 3,500mg of potassium per day, according to the UK's National Health Service. The average banana, weighing 125g, contains 450mg of potassium, meaning a healthy person can consume at least seven-and-half bananas before reaching the recommended level.
In adults aged 20 and over, the average daily potassium intake from foods is 3,016 mg for men and 2,320 mg for women.
Because lack of potassium is rare, there is no RDA or RNI for this mineral. However, it is thought that 1600 to 2000 mg (40 to 50 milliequivalents [mEq]) per day for adults is adequate.
A typical potassium level for an adult falls between 3.5 and 5.0 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). Hyperkalemia occurs when levels go above 5.5 mmol/L. A reading above 6.5 mmol/L can cause heart problems that require immediate medical attention.
There are limited or no options for at-home kits to test potassium levels. If you are prescribed a 24-hour urine test, you will need to collect your urine wherever you are during the day, including at home. However, this testing is still prescribed by your doctor rather than sold as a separate at-home test kit.
What is the best form of potassium to take? A person should prioritize getting potassium from their diet. Sources of potassium include dried apricots, lentils, squash, prunes, potato, kidney beans, and bananas. Apricots offer the most potassium.
When Is The Best Time To Take Potassium? That said, there is no “best” time to take potassium, but recent research suggests that taking potassium –alongside your other vitamins and minerals—in the morning could offer greater benefits.
Did You Know? One serving of a medium avocado (half the fruit) has more potassium than a medium banana, 487 mg potassium versus 422 mg potassium, respectively.
Caffeine and tobacco reduce the absorption of potassium. People at risk for insufficient potassium intake include alcoholics, drug addicts and crash dieters.
What Causes Low Potassium in Elderly Adults? Malnutrition and dehydration. Eating unhealthy foods, or not eating at all, can deplete your body of vitamins and minerals. Lack of hydration can also lead to a loss of potassium in cells.
How much potassium is in an egg? One large egg contains about 63 mg of potassium. 1 Eggs are considered a low-potassium food, but check with your doctor or dietitian to find out how often you should eat them.
Juice from potassium-rich fruit is also a good choice: Orange juice. Tomato juice. Prune juice.
To start with, you're much better off getting potassium from foods instead of potassium supplements. Many fruits and vegetables are rich in potassium, including spinach, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, bananas, and avocado. Potassium-rich diets help control blood pressure and have been linked to a lower risk of stroke.
Oral potassium tablets typically contain around 12 mmol of potassium and should be administered with food to reduce their alimentary side effects, which include nausea and vomiting. This is equivalent to one medium banana.
Magnesium administration, concomitant with potassium, assists tissue replenishment of potassium.
Excessive water consumption may lead to depletion of potassium, which is an essential nutrient. This may cause symptoms like leg pain, irritation, chest pain, et al.
Vomiting, diarrhea or both also can result in excessive potassium loss from the digestive tract. Occasionally, low potassium is caused by not getting enough potassium in your diet. In most cases, low potassium is found by a blood test that is done because of an illness, or because you are taking diuretics.
Low potassium (hypokalemia) has many causes. The most common cause is excessive potassium loss in urine due to prescription medications that increase urination. Also known as water pills or diuretics, these types of medications are often prescribed for people who have high blood pressure or heart disease.
Muscle weakness and cramps
Muscle cramps are sudden, uncontrolled contractions of the muscles. They can occur when blood potassium levels are low and can be painful ( 2 ). Within skeletal muscle, potassium helps relay signals from your brain to stimulate contractions.
When your levels are too low, you might experience cramps, spasms and aches. You can experience these cramps any time of day, but they may occur more during exercise. Upset stomach: Low potassium levels can slow down your bowel functions. This can lead to constipation, cramping and bloating.
Vitamin D apparently affects the absorption and metabolism of potassium and sodium to a lesser extent than that of magnesium.