Micronutrients - Deficiency & Excess of Electrolytes
Electrolytes Sodium, potassium and chloride ions are essential to the regulation of water balance within the body.
Deficiency
Deficiency of sodium, chloride and water, as seen with gastrointestinal diseases (vomiting, diarrhoea), renal (kidney) failure or other renal losses, excessive sweating or loss via burns or dialysis can lead to characteristic symptoms of dehydration – physical exhaustion, reduced blood pressure, cold extremities.
Treatment of mild cases is best achieved by administration of sodium chloride and other salts orally with water being retained in parallel. If the required sodium levels cannot be tolerated orally, then intravenous administration of saline solution may be necessary.
For sports people and fitness individuals, excessive loss of ions in sweat does not usually result in clinical issues. However, replacement of electrolytes by use of one of the many proprietary sports drinks is usually sufficient. Sodium may be manipulated during the final days of preparation for a competition. By depleting levels of sodium, a drier look can be achieved that may give your physique the edge.
Deficiency of potassium is again seen in gastrointestinal and renal disease, uncontrolled diabetes, use of diuretic drugs and chronic metabolic acidosis or alkalosis. Symptoms include lethargy, constipation and muscle weakness along with increased thirst and urinary losses. Treatment is generally via potassium supplements.
Excess
Symptoms of excess include oedema from water retention, which causes swelling around the ankles and face, and breathlessness when the oedema occurs around the lungs. Retention of sodium and chloride ions in the body is usually due to a failure of part of the circulatory system, leading to the kidney attempting to conserve salt. A reduced sodium diet along with use of diuretics can rectify the symptoms of excess.
Excessive intakes of sodium chloride are common in the Western world, as salt is a frequent addition to processed foods to add flavour. Therefore, people’s palates have changed to favour saltier tasting foods. The result of diets high in salt, even when these do not elevate levels high enough to impact salt content within the body, is often high blood pressure, which can put strain on the heart and lead to heart attacks and strokes.
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