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American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 22, 1589-1596, Copyright © 1969 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Improvement in Glucose Tolerance of Fasting Obese Patients Given Oral Potassium

JAMES W. ANDERSON M.D.1, ROBERT H. HERMAN M.D.1, and KERMIT L. NEWCOMER M.D.1

1 From the Metabolic Division, U.S. Army Medical Research and Nutrition Laboratory, Fitzsimons General Hospital, Denver, Colorado 80240

Potassium therapy during a 2-week fast led to a significant improvement in glucose tolerance in six obese patients. This improvement was associated with earlier and greater plasma insulin responses than observed when no potassium was given. Fasting for 2 weeks without potassium produced no significant change in glucose tolerance. Fasting with potassium supplementation maintained normal potassium balance and produced a slight rise in total body potassium (K-40). When patients were fasted without potassium, a statistically significant negative potassium balance developed and the total body potassium fell significantly. No correlation between plasmafree fatty acid values and glucose tolerance was observed.

Potassium depletion during fasting appears to play a significant role in the deterioration of glucose tolerance. It is suggested that potassium therapy increases the ability of the pancreas to secrete insulin in the presence of hyperglycemia.






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