J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 56(10): 1369-1386, 1956
INFLUENCE OF POTASSIUM ON NITROGEN BALANCE IN SURGICAL UNDERNUTRITION
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Department of Surgery, Branch Hospital of Tokyo University (Director: Associate Prof. T. Hayashida) Bong HO KIM |
Experiments were done using two groups of rabbits.
Group 1: Daily administered 0.3 gm. of potassium chloride
Group 2: Control
Results :
Animal Experiments :
A) Repleting stage :
Group 1 is more rapid by gaining weight, and has less loss of urinary nitrogen than Group 2.
B) Depleting stage : Group 1 has less of body weight and urinary nitrogen than Group 2.
C) Tissue analysis :
During both depleting and repleting stage, nitrogen and potassium contents of muscle-tissues is closer to normal in Group 1 than in Group 2.
D) Microscopic histochemical study :
We observed phosphatase of liver cells inorder to demonstrate the importance of potassium as one of the parts necessary to maintain cell function.
During both repleting and depleting stage, it was shown that the phosphatase was closer to normal in Group 1 than in Group 2.
Clinical Study :
In the undernutritional and post-operative cases in which potassium was added, decrease of urinary nitrogen Ioss and positive nitrogen balance ensued promptly (similar result was reported from J.M. Beal, P.M. Frost and J.L. Smith -1953) and the oral intake of foods increased. By study of blood (A/G ratio, Total circulating plasma protein) we have found that the retained nitrogen is effctively used to build body protein.
Conclusion:
On the basis of experimental and clinical observations. the author emphasized that the surgical undernutritional patients (including postoperative cases) should be administered "POTASSIUM" with other routine nutritional substances.
(author's abstract)
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