Abstract
Potassium (K) deficiency interferes with growth in young animals as well as in children. This has been related to inhibition of protein synthesis, a process which is known to depend on K.
In order to quantify the K requirement, 4-13 week old rats were maintained on K-deficient fodder (1 mmol/kg). Within 3 days, growth had ceased and the incorporation of 3H-leucine into muscle protein in vivo was reduced by 28-38% (P<0.005). Following 14 days on this K-deficient fodder, the incorporation of 3H-leucine or 14C-glutamine into muscle protein was further reduced and weight gain was only 10% of that measured in age-matched controls. K repletion caused rapid weight gain, and the incorporation of 3H-leucine into muscle protein reached 76 and 104% of the control level within 24 and 72 hours, respectively. In spite of early growth acceleration, normal weight was not attained until after 7 weeks on normal fodder. Thus K deficiency caused a serious set-back in growth. Rats maintained for 7 days on moderately K-deficient fodder (20 mmol/kg) showed 26% inhibition of growth (P<0.005) and 17% reduction of the incorporation of 3H-leucine into muscle protein (P<0.02) even though muscle K content was only reduced by 5% (NS). Parallel in vitro studies showed that in isolated muscles, the incorporation of 3H-leucine into protein was much less sensitive to K depletion than in vivo.
It is concluded that in the intact organism, even moderate K depletion leads to inhibition of growth and protein synthesis. As decreased cellular K content can only in part account for this inhibition, other regulatory (endocrine?) factors may be of importance. The observations emphasize the need for adequate K supplies to ensure optimum utilization of food elements for protein synthesis and growth.
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Dørup, I., Clausen, T. 70 POTASSIUM DEFICIENCY LEADS TO RAPID AND REVERSIBLE INHIBITION OF GRWOTH AND PROTEIN SYNTHESIS IN YOUNG RATS. Pediatr Res 24, 528 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198810000-00091
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198810000-00091