title: Effects of potassium intake on potassium, sodium and fluid balance in exercising horses.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the adaptation to an increased potassium (K+) intake in horses and to study whether the regulation of the post exercise K+, sodium (Na+) and fluid balances were altered by an increased K+ intake. Four Standardbred horses were fed 2 levels (4.1 and 5.4 mmol/kg bwt/day) of K+ for 17 days in a crossover design. The effects on K+, Na+ and fluid balance were studied both at rest and in response to 29 km exercise. K+, Na+ and fluid intakes and outputs were balanced within 24 h after a new diet had been introduced. Adaptation consisted primarily of an increased urinary K+ excretion, later followed by an increase in faecal excretion. The increased urinary K+ excretion was associated with an increased mass of urine (1.2-1.4 kg/day) compensated for by an increased water intake. The sweat Na+ concentration was increased on the highest K+ intake (from 123 +/- 5 mmol/l to 138 +/- 3 mmol/l) and the urinary Na+ excretion was lower post exercise on this diet. There were no differences in the magnitude of post exercise hypokalaemia between the diets, and plasma K+ concentration was still reduced 24 h post exercise even when the horses were fed the higher K+ diet. Adaptation to an increased K+ intake was rapid in these horses and consisted mainly of an increased urinary excretion. The response to exercise was unaltered by the increased K+ intake, except for an increased Na+ concentration in sweat.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jansson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindholm
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lindberg
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dahlborn
mesh_terms: D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood*; D017419:Potassium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood*; D013542:Sweat / Q000737:chemistry; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance
chemical_list: D017419:Potassium, Dietary; D000450:Aldosterone; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium