Roles of potassium in human body

Potassium ions are essential for the human body and are also present in plants. Our body contains approximately 2.6 g of potassium per kg of our body weight, and performs many biological functions including:

*Potassium is an obligatory component of all cells hence, the greater the number of cells the more is the increase in potassium. Its levels are controlled by the kidneys. Primarily, potassium functions to regulate water and mineral balance throughout the body.

*Potassium is required for the maintenance of osmotic pressure and fluid balance within the cells.

*Potassium is required for enzymatic reactions which take place within the cell. Some potassium is bound to phosphate in the process of formation of glucose to glycogen. It is required for insulin secretion, creatine phosphorylation, carbohydrate metabolism and protein synthesis. The ratio of intracellular to extracellular potassium is the major determinant of muscular and neuronal excitability and if this balance is disturbed, various pathological states can develop.

*The small concentration of potassium in the ECF, it is required to transmit nerve impulse to muscle fibers, along other ions. Potassium ions are crucial for the functioning of neurons, by influencing the osmotic balance between cells and the interstitial fluid.

Include in a diet plan, lean meats such as salmon and other fish, chicken, and turkey—each provide over 400 milligrams of potassium for every 3 ounce portion.
Roles of potassium in human body

Functions of lipids and fats

Lipids are a broad group of diverse and naturally occurring, organic compounds. Lipids are studied by nutritionists who investigate how intake of fats in human diet affects the composition of various parts of the body, e.g. heart, the liver and the brain. Lipids play a large role when it comes to energy storage and the structure of cells.

They are divided into four main groups consisting of fats, lipids, hormones and steroids.  The difference between fats and lipids is that fats are a subset of lipids.

In general, fat performs four functions in the body. It provides energy, essential fatty acids, structural components and regulatory functions.

*One of the major roles of fat is to serve as fuel molecules. The immediate sources of energy for the body are the free fatty acids in the circulation liberated from adipose triglycerides by the enzyme lipase.  Triacylglycerol fatty acids provide long-term storage of fuel that can be mobilized during food storage, for growth and during vigorous exercise. They are amore highly concentrated form of metabolic energy than carbohydrates. The main depot is the adipose tissue.

*The body has a remarkable ability to synthesize many compounds and this including excess protein and carbohydrates can be converted to fat.

*Fat in the form of triglycerides, phospholipids, cholesterol and cholesterol esters are important to the structure, composition and permeability of membranes and cell walls. Body fat: can hold organs in place: absorbs shock and: insulates the body against rapid temperature changes or excessive heat loss. Phospholipids are water soluble and may aid in the transport of other fats in and out of cells.

Lipids are present as a bilayer in biological membranes, as a layer on the surface of the skin and in the lung surfactant lipid. Because of their specialized functions, their composition is conservative.

*Regulatory functions. Triglycerides in pure state are relatively tasteless, but they absorb and retain flavors of food.  Fats provide texture that enhances palatability and they delay emptying of the stomach and contribute to feeling of satiety.

Dietary fat serves as a carrier for the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K and as an aid to their absorption in the intestine.
Functions of lipids and fats

Role of Sodium in Human Body

Role of Sodium in Human Body
The human body contains approximately 1.3 g of sodium. About a third is found in our bones. The rest is our body fluids. It ensures a proper fluid and electrolyte or pH balance in our body, together with chlorine and potassium.

Sodium in the form of sodium chloride is ingested directly though food and many food materials contain this material.

Sodium helps our body retaining the body’s water and pH. It enables our cell walls to draw in nutrients. It plays a role in nerve function and muscle contraction. Sodium works in close association with chlorine and potassium.

Sodium also plays a special role in controlling the heartbeat by helping in its origin and maintenance.

Food sources of sodium including salt, smoked, pickled or refined foods, crisps, condiments such as tomato sauce, bread and breakfast cereals.

Many dieticians say that adding any salt to our food means we’re having too much in our diet. High levels of sodium in the body are associated with high blood pressure and hypertension.

Salt tablets may be recommended for dehydration and low blood pressure. Any active sport participation leads to a considerable loss of water.

Sufficient quantities of water should therefore be consumed during and after exercising. Drinking at least eight glasses of water a day will also reduce cravings for sweet and savory things.

Daily requirement is about 3-5 g for a normal adult. It is absorbed nearly completely from diet in the intestinal tract. Normally kidney excretes the excess if the sodium and deregulate the sodium content in the body.

Sodium deficiency results in muscle cramps. Headache. Poor appetite and dehydration, but the main sign is fatigue.
Role of Sodium in Human Body

Sodium in Human Body

Sodium in Human Body
Sodium is capable of permeating the cell membrane and muscle contraction and nerve transmission involve a temporary exchange of extracellular sodium and intracellular potassium.

The subsequent transfer of sodium out of the cell is by means of an active mechanism or pump.

A very small amount of sodium occurs intracellularly.

In bone sodium is bound for the most part on the surface of bone crystals. The amount present in bone is by no means small and accounts for 30 to 45 percent of total body sodium.

This reservoir apparently is part of the active labile sodium pool in the body.

Sodium metabolism is regulated primarily by aldosterone, a hormone of the adrenal cortex that promotes the reabsorption of sodium from the kidney tubules.

If the absence of this hormone, sodium excretion is increased and symptoms of deficiency ensue.

Other adrenalin minerolocorticoids, deoxycorticosterone and hydrocortisone, are involved in regulation of sodium excretion but are less potent in action.
Sodium in Human Body