The mathematical model mimics how an average person’s body regulates potassium, both in times of high and low levels of potassium.
Drug-Induced Hyperkalemia | High Potassium Levels
Intake of drugs like ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor antagonists, NSAIDs, certain antibiotics and immunosuppressants increase potassium levels in blood leading to hyperkalemia.
Intake of drugs like ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor antagonists, NSAIDs, certain antibiotics and immunosuppressants increase potassium levels in blood leading to hyperkalemia.
‘The mathematical model is used as a virtual patient trial, allowing researchers to generate patients and then predict who have hyper- or hypokalemia (high/low potassium levels) based on control subjects.’
Because so many foods contain abundant potassium, our bodies constantly store, deploy, and dispose of potassium to maintain healthy levels – a process known as maintaining potassium homeostasis. Understanding potassium homeostasis is essential in helping diagnose the source of the problem when something goes wrong – for example, when kidney disease or medication leads to dysregulation.
Regulation of Potassium Levels
“Too much potassium in the body, or hyperkalemia, can be just as dangerous as hypokalemia, or too little,” said Melissa M. Stadt, a PhD student in applied mathematics and the lead author of the study. “Dysregulation of potassium can lead to dangerous and potentially fatal consequences.”“A lot of our models are pieces of a bigger picture,” said Anita Layton, professor of applied mathematics and Canada 150 Research Chair in mathematical biology and medicine. “This model is one new and exciting piece in helping us understand how our incredibly complex internal systems work.”
The model is especially exciting because it allows scientists to test something called the muscle-kidney cross-talk signal hypothesis. Scientists have hypothesized that skeletal muscles, which are responsible for most of the potassium storage in the body, can directly signal to the kidneys that it’s time to excrete excess when too much potassium is stored, and vice versa. When the math researchers tested the hypothesis in their model, it more accurately reflected existing biological data regarding potassium homeostasis, suggesting that muscle-kidney cross talk might be an essential piece in the puzzle of potassium regulation.
Hyperkalemia | High Blood Potassium - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention
Hyperkalemia is a high level of potassium in the body. When potassium in the blood is above 5.5 mmol/l, it is called hyperkalemia and can lead to fatal changes in heart rhythm.
Hyperkalemia is a high level of potassium in the body. When potassium in the blood is above 5.5 mmol/l, it is called hyperkalemia and can lead to fatal changes in heart rhythm.
Source-Eurekalert
Potassium Rich Foods | Foods High in Potassium
Eat more potassium rich foods and lower your risk for high blood pressure and kidney stones. Potassium is an important dietary mineral and electrolyte that is obtained from food we eat.
Eat more potassium rich foods and lower your risk for high blood pressure and kidney stones. Potassium is an important dietary mineral and electrolyte that is obtained from food we eat.
Quiz on Potassium-rich Foods
Potassium is a mineral and type of electrolyte that your body requires for the proper functioning of the nerves, muscles and heart. It also helps in the movement of nutrients into cells and waste products out of cells.
Potassium is a mineral and type of electrolyte that your body requires for the proper functioning of the nerves, muscles and heart. It also helps in the movement of nutrients into cells and waste products out of cells.
