Metabolic hypokalemia

Human potassium is completely absorbed by the outside world. About 50-100 mmol of potassium is taken from food every day, and 90% is absorbed by the small intestine. The kidney is the main organ that excretes potassium and regulates the balance of potassium. The potassium in the glomerular filtrate is completely absorbed in the proximal tubules. Later, the distal tubule cells and collecting duct cells secrete the excess potassium from the urine. It is excreted to maintain the balance of potassium in the body. However, when the body's intake of potassium is insufficient, the kidneys cannot significantly reduce potassium excretion and keep potassium in the body, so it is easy to cause potassium deficiency. The serum potassium concentration ranged from 3.5 to 5.5 mmol / L, with an average of 4.2 mmol / L. Hypokalemia is usually referred to as serum potassium <3.5mmol / L. However, a decrease in serum potassium does not necessarily indicate a lack of potassium in the body,