Electrolytes are a group of minerals that conduct electricity in your blood and body fluids. These minerals help control a number of vital functions related to the water levels in your body, including normal muscle function and the relative acidity of your blood. To do their job properly, your electrolytes must be maintained in certain ratios.
Electrolytes and Fluid Balance
Your body maintains its fluids in three basic areas: your bloodstream, your cells and the spaces in between and around your cells. If your fluid levels in these areas rise too high or fall too low, your electrolytes change their relative concentrations and encourage a fluid transfer designed to restore the normal fluid balance. Overall, water is roughly 60 percent of your body weight. The water in your cells accounts for 40 percent of your body weight, while the water between and around your cells accounts for 15 percent of your weight. The water in your bloodstream accounts for 5 percent of your weight.
Main Electrolyte Ratios
The main electrolytes in your body are sodium, chloride, phosphate and potassium. Additional electrolytes include bicarbonate, magnesium, calcium and sulfate. Certain proteins in your body also serve as electrolytes. The normal sodium concentration ratio is 142 mEq/L outside your cells and 10 mEq/L inside your cells. You normally have 105 mEq/L of chloride outside your cells and 2 mEq/L inside your cells. You normally have 100 mEq/L of potassium inside your cells and 5 mEq/L outside your cells. You normally have 149 mEq/L of phosphate inside your cells and 2 mEq/L outside your cells.
Additional Electrolyte Ratios
Your normal magnesium concentration ratio is 123 mEq/L inside your cells and 2 mEq/L outside your cells. You normally have no calcium inside your cells and 5 mEq/L outside your cells. You normally have 8 mEq/L of bicarbonate inside your cells and 24 mEq/L outside your cells. You normally have no sulfate inside your cells and 1 mEq/L outside your cells. You normally have 55 mEq/L of protein electrolytes inside your cells and 16 mEq/L outside your cells. When viewed in terms of their positive and negative electrical charges, the electrolytes in your body cancel each other out at their normal ratios.
Considerations
You get some electrolytes from foods and beverages and make others in your body. Your kidneys help regulate electrolyte ratios by filtering out the electrolytes in your bloodstream. Required electrolytes are returned to your blood, while unneeded electrolytes get excreted in your urine. Conditions that typically involve some degree of electrolyte imbalance include diabetes, certain nerve and muscle disorders and some forms of heart disease. Potential causes of an imbalance include dehydration, improper administration of IV foods or fluids, use of certain medications and the presence of specific disorders in your liver, heart or kidneys. Potential consequences of an imbalance include cramps, dizziness, heartbeat irregularities and death. Consult your doctor for more information on proper electrolyte ratios.
