Effect of restricted potassium intake on its excretion and on physiological responses during heat stress

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Abstract
The effect of low potassium (K+) intake on its excretion, concentration in sweat and on physiological responses during heat stress was evaluated on eight Indian male soldiers in winter months at Delhi. After a stabilization period of 3 days on each diet, i.e., 85 mEq of K+/d (diet I, normal), 55 mEq of K+/d (diet II), and 45 mEq of K+/d (diet III), the physiological responses and the sodium and potassium concentrations in sweat, plasma, RBC, and urine were measured when the subjects were exposed to heat for 3 h daily in a climatic chamber maintained at 40‡ C DB and 32‡ C WB. The subjects worked in the chamber at the rate of 465 W/h for 20 min periods with 40 min rest between each period of exercise. The whole body sweat was collected after the first spell of work and was analysed for sodium and potassium levels. Throughout the study the subjects remained on positive sodium balance except on day 4 in diet III. Fluid balance also remained positive while potassium balance was negative in subjects on diet II and diet III. There was no significant change in heart rate, sweat volume, oral temperature, sodium, and potassium concentrations in plasma and RBC during the entire period of the study. Even in the subjects with negative potassium balance there was no change in the sodium and potassium concentrations in sweat during exercise in heat. The only evidence of potassium conservation was a reduced excretion in urine. Out of the eight subjects, in one subject there was a flattening of the ‘T’ wave in the ECG and reduction in amplitude of the ‘T’ wave in two more subjects. As there is no reduction in sweat potassium concentration and the urine volume is low, the marginal level of reduced excretion of potassium in urine with a high rate of sweating (7–81) in subjects doing work in the tropics, there is every likelihood of potassium deficiency if a liberal intake is not ensured.