Total body potassium measurement by whole body counter for estimation of lbm. Whole body potassium was measured by counting 40 k in a shadow shield whole body counter. Cadaver analyses by forbes and lewis 1956 enabled the subsequent use of body potassium as an indirect marker for estimating body fat mass. The total amount of potassium in the adult body is about 45 millimole mmolkg body weight about 140 g for a 175 pound adult. Potassium is an electrolyte thats essential for proper muscle and nerve function. More than 180 whole body counters were operational worldwide by the early 1970s with more than two thirds of these instruments used to measure body potassium in humans international atomic energy agency 1970.
The normal range of potassium level in the body is 32 mmoll to 52 mmoll. The counter consisted of six nai tl detectors that ranged from 76 to 127 cm in diameter and from 76 to 127 cm thick. Why would i get this test. 1 mmol 1 milliequivalent meq or 391 mg potassium 3. Kidney disease is one of the reasons for the high potassium level. If the potassium level is increased above 60 mmoll patient requires medical intervention.
The kidney controls the level of potassium in body fluids by controlling the amount of potassium to be excreted. Most potassium resides intracellularly and a small amount is in extracellular fluid 2 4. A potassium test is used to measure the amount of potassium in your blood. Your body should maintain a specific amount of potassium in the blood ranging from 36 to 52 millimoles per liter mmoll. Even minor increases or decreases in.