The cells, tissues and organs of your body require potassium to function properly. Like sodium, chloride and magnesium, potassium is an electrolyte so it helps facilitate the conduction of electricity in your body, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes. However, your body needs to balance your potassium levels. If your potassium levels grow too high or too low, you will experience adverse reactions and potentially harms your liver. Taking enough potassium to meet your body's needs is essential to keeping your liver healthy as well.
Dose and Hepatic Encephalopathy
The recommended daily intake of dietary potassium depends on age. Newborns and infants up to about 6 months of age need about 500 mg of potassium, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes. Infants ages of 7 to 12 months need 700 mg. Children ages 1 to 5 need 1,000 mg to 1,400 mg of potassium daily. Those ages 6 to 9 require 1,600 mg of potassium. People over the age of 10 need about 2,000 mg of potassium daily. Abnormalities in potassium levels, such as those caused by excessive vomiting or diarrhea, sometimes can damage your liver. Sometimes, the damage triggers hepatic encephalopathy, a condition that impairs brain function because your liver is unable to properly filter toxins from your blood. This causes symptoms like confusion, forgetfulness, mood changes and impaired judgment.
Potassium and Cirrhosis
A study published in the February 1976 issue of "Gut Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology" examined the relationship between potassium levels and cirrhosis. The study involved about 55 people who had cirrhosis at different stages of the disease. The study included 34 people with alcoholic cirrhosis. The results indicate that cirrhosis depletes potassium levels.
Hypokalemia and Liver Metastases
A study published in the September 2004 issue of "Internal Medicine" involved a man in his 80s that had a hepatic recurrence of gastric cancer. The man's serum potassium decreased from 3.9 mmol/L to 3.1 mmol/L about 5 weeks after a gastrectomy. In addition to having hypokalemia, the man also developed hypoglycemia. This suggests that hypokalemia is related to possible liver metastases. However, more research is necessary to examine whether or not this is a general occurrence.
Potassium and Liver Disease
A seminar published in the November 2006 issue of "Seminars in Nephrology" discussed the relationship of acid-base disorders, potassium disorders and the occurrence of liver disease. The seminar noted that acid-base disorders in people that suffer from liver disease are complex. Moreover, the seminar discussed how potassium disorders often stem from liver disease treatments.
References
- "Gut Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology"; Potassium Status of Patients with Cirrhosis; NG Soler, et al.; February 1976
- "Internal Medicine"; Severe Hypoglycemia and Hypokalemia in Association with Liver Metastases of Gastric Cancer; Kato A, et al.; September 2004
- MedlinePlus; Hepatic Encephalopathy; George F. Longstreth; October 2009
- "Seminars in Nephrology"; Acid-Base and Potassium Disorders in Liver Disease; Ahya SN, et al.; November 2006
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Potassium; Steven D. Ehrlich; May 2009
