Potassium deficiency, called hypokalemia, has a negative impact on numerous health conditions. These include muscle weakness and muscle cramps, as well as clinical depression. Chronic pain is a physical and emotional condition, asserts researchers at Harvard Medical School. Some physicians use antidepressant medications such as Elavil in lieu of analgesics, reports the "Harvard Health Letter." Others experiment with adding potassium-rich food to their patient's diets.
Potassium Function
The essential dietary mineral and electrolyte called potassium plays a key role in muscle contraction, digestion, respiration and kidney function. Self-induced vomiting, chronic diarrhea, diuretics and syndromes such as Crohn's disease can cause potassium depletion, which in turn induces muscle weakness, cramps and restless leg syndrome. Clinical depression often accompanies these symptoms, but researchers have not discovered the mechanism by which hypokalemia causes depression. It's possible that the breakdown of the body's other systems affects mental health.
Cola And Potassium
Treating potassium deficiency related muscle pain involves adding more potassium to your diet, or eliminating food or drinks that caused the deficiency. Cola drinks are one of the major culprits, reports lead author Vasilis Tsimihodimos. A June 2009 study published in the "International Journal for Clinical Practice" described two pregnant women admitted to a hospital in Greece. On ewoman drank up to drank up to 3 liters of cola each day. Her symptoms included fatigue, appetite loss and vomiting. The second patient consumed an average of 7 liters of cola a day for 10 months. She complained of extreme muscle pain and weakness. Tests revealed low potassium levels in both patients. They fully recovered after they stopped drinking cola, and received oral or intravenous potassium.
Potassium/Sodium Connection
Potassium combined with a high-calcium and low-sodium diet effectively improves mood, reports Susan J. Torres in a February 2008 article published in the "British Journal of Nutrition." Her research team recruited 97 men and women. One group stayed on a low-sodium, high-potassium diet and high calcium diet, and the other stayed on a moderate-sodium, high-potassium,
high-calcium diet. The subjects who stayed on the low sodium diet showed greater improvements in mood those on the moderate sodium diet.
Potassium Sources
The national Institute of Health recommend that adults 19 years old or older consume at least 4 g of potassium each day. Vegetables, fruits and dairy products provide high levels of potassium. Baked potatoes, lima beans, sweet potatoes, winter squash, broccoli, avocados and peas are high potassium vegetables. Most citrus fruits, as well as apricots, especially dried apricots, cantaloupe, bananas, peaches, kiwi and prunes provide high doses of potassium. Milk, yogurt and nuts offer additional potassium sources. Drink plenty of water to prevent potassium depletion through dehydration
References
- Medline Plus: Muscle Aches
- Fort Valley State University of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology: Potassium Rich Foods
- Havard Health Publications: Depression and Pain
- "British Journal of Nutrition"; Dietary Electrolytes are Related to Mood; Susan Torres, 2008
- "International Journal of Clinical Practice"; Cola Induced Hypokalaemia; V Tsimihodimos; June 2009
- "U.S. News Health"; Too much Cola can Cause Muscle Problems; June 2009
