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Zinc & Potassium: Both elements share left / right-sided cell receptors and are essential to human
health. Potassium (K) and zinc (Zn) values represent - and at the same time affect many aspects of the
genitourinary system, whereby normalizing their levels will normalize many common medical problems
associated with the urinary and reproductive system.
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Zinc is a component of more than 100 enzymes associated with many different metabolic processes,
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including the synthesis of the nucleic acids RNA and DNA. It is required for the transport of Vitamin A
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from the liver, and as part of superoxide dismutase (SOD) helps protect cells from free radicals.
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Zinc is also required for normal growth and development, reproductive development and function, and
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to support the immune system, where it has been shown to increase T-lymphocytes and enhance other
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white blood cell functions. However, because of its effect on increasing white blood counts, higher
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intake of zinc (unless low) is contraindicated with leukemia.
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The body contains about 1.5 to 2.5 g of zinc, of which the kidneys, liver, pancreas, eyes, prostate and
bone contain larger concentrations, however they do not function as zinc reserves, so the body depends
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on adequate dietary intake for its daily requirements.
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Zinc is lost in sweat and through food processing. In addition, with zinc being water-soluble, canning
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or cooking in water can deplete the amounts of zinc in food, and less zinc is also absorbed when it is
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bound with phytates or oxalates found in grains and vegetables, and when high amounts of other trace
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minerals such as copper, iron, calcium, and some toxic metals (cadmium, lead) are present at the
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same time.
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Zinc deficiency has been implicated as a factor with birth defects and low birth weight, delayed sexual
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development, as well as impaired learning. Additional zinc intake may help with the loss of smell and
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taste sensation, wound healing, anorexia / loss of appetite, paranoia, depression, strong body odor,
benign prostatic hypertrophy, impotence, certain hair, nail and joint / arthritic problems, cataracts and
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optic neuritis, as well as skin conditions such as acne and dermatitis. It should be noted though that
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the infamous 'White Spots' on someone's nails are not caused by zinc deficiency, as they are just as
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common in people with excessively high zinc levels.
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Zinc is necessary to maintain normal serum Testosterone, whereby inadequate zinc levels prevent the
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pituitary gland from releasing luteinizing and follicle stimulating hormones, which stimulate testosterone
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production. Zinc also inhibits the aromatase enzyme that converts testosterone into excess estrogen.
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The testosterone to estrogen ratio in men declines with aging from a high of about 50:1 to half of that,
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or even a low of 10:1, resulting in higher estradiol (estrogen) activity, which subsequently increases the
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risk of heart disease, Weight Gain, or even obesity. One reason is that fat cells contain aromatase, so
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more fat cells translate into more testosterone being converted to estrogen. This is further aggravated
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by alcohol consumption, which lowers zinc and increases estrogen, and so magnifies the problem.
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Some animal studies have demonstrated a relationship between zinc and insulin metabolism, and that
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a deficiency may play a role in the onset of diabetes, however a relationship of zinc-deficient diets and
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glucose intolerance in humans is not confirmed.
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Excessive zinc intake will eventually affect the balance and proper ratios to numerous other important
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nutrients that may include iron, calcium, selenium, nickel, phosphorus, copper, as well as Vitamin A, B1,
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C, and others. It may also cause, or contribute to gastrointestinal problems, hair loss, anemia, loss of
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libido, impotence, prostatitis, ovarian cysts, menstrual problems, depressed immune functions, muscle
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spasms, sciatica, renal tubular necrosis / interstitial nephritis, dizziness and vomiting, among others.
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While some trials have shown Zinc Lozenges to be able to provide some relief with sore throats, other
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studies showed only marginal results with cold-related symptoms, and none in regard to flu symptoms.
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The same mixed results can be expected when using extra zinc for the relief of symptoms from herpes,
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AIDS, or other infections. Whenever larger amounts of any nutrients (including zinc) are used for the
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symptomatic relief of specific medical symptoms, they become drugs, and as such become capable
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of triggering drug-like side effects or adverse reactions.
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Potassium is one of the electrolytes that with sodium is involved in the maintenance of normal water
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balance, osmotic equilibrium, acid-base balance, and it is crucial to cardiovascular and nerve functions.
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It is the primary positive cation found within the cells, and along with calcium serves an important role in
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heart muscle contractions, skeletal muscle contraction, nerve impulse transmissions, and the release of
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energy from food. Potassium is involved as a cofactor in several enzyme systems which include protein
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synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, and it affects uptake of amino acids into cells.
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In addition to calcium and magnesium, potassium helps maintain normal Blood Pressure, and next to
iron, potassium is one of the most commonly prescribed minerals, since some amounts are frequently
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lost when diuretics (water pills) are prescribed. For the same reason, serum potassium is commonly
measured as part of routine lab tests, although Red Blood Cell Potassium, or Intracellular Potassium
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(Acu-Cell Analysis) are much better and more accurate indicators of a patient's true potassium status.
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Potassium supplements in Health food stores are frequently sold as gluconate or citrate, and they are
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usually limited to 99 mg or 100 mg / tablet, while pharmacies generally dispense Potassium Chloride
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in a slow-release / high potency form ("Slow K"), which is measured in milliequivalents (mEq), whereby
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1mEq equals about 74.5mg. Since concentrated amounts of potassium or chloride can trigger gastro-
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intestinal distress or bleeding ulcers, these slow-release tablets should be swallowed whole, and not
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chewed or cut in half.
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Those who are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis but require larger daily doses of potassium
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may consider taking Potassium Citrate, which has a more favorable effect on Bone Mineral Density
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compared to potassium chloride, and which is available at pharmacies in an effervescent form (such as
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"K-Lyte"), whereby 1mEq equals about 108mg.
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Similarly to zinc, there is no storage of potassium in the body, and it is easily lost in cooking, canning,
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and processing of foods. Some is lost through perspiration, and the adrenal hormone aldosterone also
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stimulates the elimination of potassium by the kidneys. Individuals with a family history of stroke may
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want to make sure that they always meet, or even exceed optimal potassium requirements through diet
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or supplementation, particularly when consuming meals containing above-average amounts of sodium -
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which should be avoided whenever possible.
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All fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts are a good source of potassium, however the potassium / sodium
ratio of these foods varies considerably, which can be used to one's advantage - not only for those who
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require more potassium, but also for people who lack sodium and retain too much potassium.
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Sources with the highest potassium / sodium (K/Na) ratio include beans, peas, potatoes, grains, nuts
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and fruits - where for instance pistachios contain about 1000x more potassium than sodium, bananas
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nearly 400x more potassium than sodium, and potatoes about 80x more potassium than sodium.
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In contrast, spinach, celery, or beets contain only about 3x to 7x more potassium than sodium, with the
same ratio applying to whole milk, chicken and lamb, while eggs, beef and fish contain between 6x to
10x more potassium than sodium. On the other hand, Kelp contains 2.6x more sodium than potassium.
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Choosing Potassium Chloride to season one's food instead of Sodium Chloride (common table salt),
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or using commercially available 50 / 50 preparations, may also be a better choice if it benefits some-
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one's particular chemistry.
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Problems associated with low potassium levels (hypokalemia) include high blood pressure, congestive
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heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, palpitations, muscle weakness, hyperthyroid, blood sugar disorders,
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mental apathy, depression, erectile dysfunctions (impotence), fatigue, and general weakness, while
severe potassium loss can cause death.
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Temporary loss of potassium can result from profuse sweating (heavy exercise, viral infections), or
diarrhea and vomiting, which can also be a concern in infants. Long-term potassium loss may result
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from working in a hot, humid environment, hormonal and kidney disturbances, prescribed medications
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or over-the-counter (OTC) remedies, including nutritional supplements (licorice), or high intake of sugar.
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Serum potassium does not usually go up with high dietary intake of potassium, so toxicity is not much
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of a problem in healthy individuals, as the kidneys readily excrete any excess of potassium. Only renal
failure, heart or liver disease, certain drugs, metabolic acidosis, Addison's disease, major burns or
muscle trauma, gastrointestinal bleeding, etc. could lead to hyperkalemia (elevated blood potassium).
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Supplementing too much potassium may affect the balance of other electrolytes such as magnesium,
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sodium, chloride, etc., or it may cause irregular heartbeat, vomiting or diarrhea.
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In contrast to serum potassium, intracellular potassium levels are much more diet-dependent and
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increase on a linear scale according to dietary intake, specific medical conditions, and the levels of
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interactive minerals such as sodium, magnesium, lithium, calcium, phosphorus, sulfur, chromium, and
others, so serum and cellular potassium levels only coincide when both are at a low to normal range.
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As a result, if too much potassium is ingested or retained, intracellular measurements readily pick up
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excessive levels even in otherwise healthy individuals (where there is no change in serum potassium),
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and they can thus be used for diagnostic, therapeutic, or preventative purposes.
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In addition to medical situations that can lead to hyperkalemia, cellular potassium covers aspects of
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bladder functions, as well as right-sided ovarian and testicular properties. Cellular zinc covers aspects
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of prostate / uterine functions, and left-sided ovarian and testicular properties. Elevated potassium is
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invariably found with acute or chronic Cystitis (bladder infections) or right-sided Ovarian cysts (but not
dermoid or chocolate cysts), whereby right-sided ovarian and/or testicular Cancer will always result in
excessively high potassium levels, which can also serve as a high risk indicator to be suggestive of a
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pelvic scan. Lowering potassium with any of several antagonists will resolve most bladder infections or
(right-sided) ovarian cysts without any other intervention. In contrast, left-sided ovarian and/or testicular
cancer is always associated with excessively high zinc levels. (see also Acu-Cell Disorders "Cancer").
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Low potassium - particularly in the elderly - frequently results in weak bladder muscles and subsequent
incontinence when coughing or laughing. Under those circumstances, bladder infection-like symptoms
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can also be experienced (including cloudy, or smelly urine), however they are somewhat different from
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a conventional bacterial cystitis that goes hand in hand with high potassium levels, in that symptoms
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readily improve by raising potassium to normal levels, provided there are no structural causes such as
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bladder prolapse. Interstitial Cystitis frequently falls into this same low-potassium category.
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Although some individuals are able to maintain normal, or even higher zinc and potassium levels well
into old age, on average, both minerals tend to undergo a steady decline through middle age and
beyond, coinciding with a menopause and andropause-related decline of hormone levels in a majority
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of the population. This in turn sets the stage for developing any number of medical disorders typically
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associated with - but not exclusive to - that age range, including hormonal / metabolic health problems,
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where even those who never had a weight problem before are finding it difficult now to maintain their
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weight.
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For some, a higher dietary or supplemental intake of zinc and potassium will sufficiently support their
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testosterone and androgen status, while others may be offered hormonal support by their practitioners,
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which in turn works in part by reducing zinc and/or potassium loss.
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Both, the primary hormone precurser pregnenolone, and the secondary hormone precurser DHEA will
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help maintain better zinc and potassium levels, however only individual assessment - and particularly
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tolerance - will best determine which treatment approach to follow.
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Prostatitis is invariably found with zinc levels that range from above-normal, to excessively high.
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Many nutritional or alternative practitioners include zinc as part of their therapy trying to treat prostatitis,
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however only Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH), or an enlarged prostate, is sometimes related to
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below-normal levels of zinc. At higher levels, zinc becomes pro-inflammatory, being a main reason why
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those who supplement extra zinc for prostatitis generally worsen the symptoms. Instead, any approach
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that lowers zinc will more likely resolve the condition. (see also Acu-Cell Disorders: "Prostatitis").
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Some menopausal females find Progesterone Cream helpful for Night Sweats, however it may not
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be the hormonal action of progesterone, but its subsequent zinc and potassium-raising effect through
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which the night sweats are improved - particularly when high sodium retention is involved. Taking zinc
and/or potassium supplements instead may provide the same benefits.
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Likewise, many weight loss formulations contain rather large amounts of potassium to take advantage
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of its diuretic properties. Some people benefit from additional potassium and will lose water weight,
however those with a tendency for hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) episodes may end up worse as a
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result of that extra potassium reducing manganese and chromium levels, which help stabilize blood
sugar, and partly as a result of potassium reducing sodium, which is an insulin antagonist. In addition,
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lowering chromium too much following long-term high potassium intake can contribute to osteoporosis
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of trabecular bone (end-part of a bone or spine).
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Total Cholesterol (not LDL or HDL) levels are somewhat affected by potassium levels, whereby low
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cholesterol is often found in the presence of low potassium, while Total Triglycerides are somewhat
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affected by zinc levels, whereby low triglycerides are frequently found in the presence of low zinc.
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Some exceptions apply, particularly when high calcium and/or magnesium levels are involved, which
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have a lowering effect on total triglycerides (calcium) and total cholesterol levels (magnesium) also.
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Sciatica: Most sciatic conditions that are not related to a herniated disk can be linked to an abnormal
zinc / potassium ratio, or less commonly to an abnormal selenium / sulfur ratio. More than 20 years ago,
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I used to treat sciatica with either ear or body Acupuncture, but after implanting needles in patients'
ears in more severe cases (to achieve ongoing pain control), they had the unique effect of changing
cellular zinc or potassium levels in these patients.
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Subsequently, I used the same side-specific mineral with patients instead of acupuncture, and their
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sciatica improved the same, without any other therapy, and sometimes even faster than previously with
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acupuncture. This would certainly challenge the common assumption by Western practitioners that the
stimulation of endorphins is the only mechanism by which acupuncture is able to provide pain relief.
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If too much of the mineral was supplemented, the sciatica would initially improve, but then eventually
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shift over to the other side - creating the opposite mineral ratio of before (instead of a low zinc / high
potassium ratio, it would now be a low potassium / high zinc ratio).
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Using the paired (associated) mineral, the sciatica would shift back to a no-pain state, or if overdosed,
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back to the original side, so achieving permanent results depends on supplementing the right amount
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of the side-specific mineral. Even if chiropractic adjustments are used to rectify a sciatic condition, the
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number of treatments can be substantially reduced by normalizing the corresponding mineral ratio, and
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they will last longer, if not permanently (see also Acu-Cell "Mineral Ratios").
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The same approach can be used with many one-sided Headaches / Migraines also, where they can
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be made to shift back and forth between the two sides, using either associated mineral pairs (slower),
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or specific vitamin pairs (faster), although double-sided headaches won't respond to this therapy, since
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there are no means of shifting the pain to the other side (see also Acu-Cell Disorders: "Headaches").
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Some less common forms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) present with very low zinc and potassium levels,
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and although the diagnosis is confirmed through MS-specific symptoms and MRI-supported lesions or
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demyelination, symptoms readily improve when normalizing the patient's zinc and potassium status.
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This low zinc and potassium-related association to weakened motor nerve activity can also be seen in
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some children or teens who tend to do very poorly in any type of Sports and Gymnastics, and whose
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athletic performance quickly improves after raising their previously very low zinc and potassium levels. ¤
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Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) is the latest term replacing daily dietary reference values such as
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Adequate Intake (AI), Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL), Estimated Average Requirements (EAR),
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Nutrient Reference Value (NRV), and Recommended Dietary Allowance / Intake (RDA / RDI).
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Zinc: Potassium:
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DRI (RDA):DRI (RDA):
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0-6 months3mg0-6 months90mg-500mg
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6-12 months5mg6-12 months500mg -700mg
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1-10 years10mg1-10 years700mg-1,600mg
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11-18 years15mg11-18 years1,600mg-3,000mg
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18 years +15mg18 years +2,000mg-5,000mg
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pregnant / lactating+ 7mgpregnant / lactating2,000mg+
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Therapeutic Range:10 - 250mgTherapeutic Range:100mg - 6,000mg+
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______________________________________________________________________________
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Cellular / Intracellular Attributes and Interactions:
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Zinc Synergists:Potassium Synergists:
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Magnesium, chromium, cobalt, Vitamin B2, Vit E,Calcium, copper, nickel, Vitamin B6, Vit C,
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Zinc Antagonists / Inhibitors:Potassium Antagonists / Inhibitors:
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Iron, calcium, phosphorus, selenium, sodium, nickel,Manganese, magnesium, sodium, chromium,
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tin, copper, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin C, niacin,sulfur, phosphorus, cobalt, niacin / niacinamide,
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niacinamide, folic acid, choline, lecithin, alcohol,PABA, Vitamin B12, choline, lecithin, alcohol,
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phytic acid, oxalic acid,insulin (serum potassium),
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Note: Magnesium is a potassium antagonist
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at low, or normal sodium levels. However, with
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high sodium levels, extra magnesium may be
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required to help lower sodium levels, which in
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turn reduces potassium loss.
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Low Levels / Deficiency - Symptoms and/or Risk Factors:
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Zinc:Potassium:
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Decreased growth, loss of taste and smell, sterility,Irregular / rapid heart beat, hypertension (high
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low sperm count, decreased wound healing, skinblood pressure), heart disease, stroke, asthma,
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rash, hair loss, heart disease, liver disease, kidneyshortness of breath, paralysis, muscle spasms,
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disease, muscle weakness, enlarged prostate (BPH),muscle weakness, bladder weakness, edema
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several types of cancer, calcium spurs, paralysis,(water retention), kidney disease, liver disease,
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arthritis, kidney stones, infertility, impotence, diabetes,endometriosis, frequent menstrual cycles, high
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high blood pressure, edema, toxemia of pregnancy,blood sugar, weight gain, fatigue, impotence,
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cataracts, depression, learning / cognitive impairment,
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High levels / Overdose / Toxicity / Negative Side Effects - Symptoms and/or Risk Factors:
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Zinc:Potassium:
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Nausea, vomiting, dehydration, gastrointestinalIrregular / rapid heart beat, low blood pressure,
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problems, stomach ulcers, prostatitis, higher riskkidney disease, cystitis - bladder infections or
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of several types of cancer, loss of libido, anemia,burning, higher risk of several types of cancer,
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impotence, hair loss, joint / back pains, muscleinfrequent menstrual cycles, muscle spasms or
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spasms / cramps, dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain),cramps, ovarian cysts (right), joint / back pains,
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ovarian cysts (left), weakened immune system,weakened immune system, impotence, anxiety,
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insomnia, irritability,insomnia, irritability, reactive hypoglycemia.
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______________________________________________________________________________
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Zinc Sources:Potassium Sources:
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Oysters, soybeans, wheat germ, seeds, nuts,Fruit / juices, milk, potatoes, lentils, molasses,
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lamb, beef, chicken, eggs, herring, milk, yeast,bananas, beans, spinach, nuts, wheat, beef. ¤
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General recommendations for nutritional supplementation: To avoid stomach problems and promote
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better tolerance, supplements should always be taken earlier, or in the middle of a larger meal. When
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taken on an empty stomach or after a meal, there is a greater risk of some tablets causing irritation, or
eventually erosion of the esophageal sphincter, resulting in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).
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It is also advisable not to lie down immediately after taking any pills.
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When taking a very large daily amount of a single nutrient, it is better to split it up into smaller doses to
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not interfere with the absorption of other nutrients in food, or nutrients supplemented at lower amounts.
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______________________________________________________________________________
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Copyright © 2000-2008 Ronald Roth Acu-Cell Nutrition: Zinc & Potassium
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