Potassium Levels in UC
Brenda wrote in to our blog regarding her daughter who was recently diagnosed with UC and is having difficulty with low potassium levels. Brenda's question was whether or not her daughter's recurrent symptoms of diarrhea could be a result of low potassium levels in the blood.
The medical term for low blood potassium is "hypokalemia". In general, there are 3 ways people can develop low potassium levels:
1) The potassium in the blood can move into cells in the body making the blood level low
2) Excessive potassium can be lost by the kidneys and excreted in the urine
3) Excessive potassium can be lost by the gastrointestinal tract through vomiting and/or
diarrhea.
In IBD patients, a common cause of low potassium levels is diarrhea. A considerable amount of potassium can be lost in stool which can disrupt electrolyte balances. As such, it is more likely that diarrhea would cause the low potassium levels as opposed to the other way around (ie; low potassium levels causing diarrhea). When bouts of diarrhea occur, it is important that individuals (both those with and without IBD) rehydrate themselves with drinks that contain glucose, sodium, and potassium. The glucose and sodium help the body retain more fluid and stay hydrated while the potassium makes up for losses in vomit and stool. Gatorade and Pedialyte are examples of drinks which contain these components.
Another cause of low potassium in IBD patients is steroids. The addition of steroids (which is necessary to decrease inflammation and treat the disease) can affect hormones that regulate steroid balance in the body. Potassium supplements may be needed to maintain a stable balance.
Although these are probably two of the more common reasons one would see low potassium levels in IBD, it should be noted that there are many causes of low potassium levels including other medications, hormone effects, and kidney conditions. Therefore, if you are suffering from low potassium levels it is important to inform your doctor of all the medications you are taking - both prescription and nonprescription - and all medical conditions for which you are being treated. By simultaneously analyzing potassium levels in the blood, urine, and stool, your doctor may be able determine where the loss is occuring and gain a better understanding of the cause.