Assessment of total body potassium in healthy Italian men.
BACKGROUND
Whole-body (40)K counting is a valuable tool for assessing cellular changes in body composition with ageing.


OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to assess total body potassium (TBK) and body cell mass (BCM) differences with age, and to compare TBK and BCM between individuals with a body mass index (BMI) < 25 kg m(-2) versus > 25 kg m(-2).


METHODS
Body composition of 840 healthy Italian men, 18-70 years of age, was measured by whole-body counting of (40)K. BCM (kg) was calculated as 0.00833 x TBK (mmol).


RESULTS
Body weight did not differ among groups. TBK, TBK/height, TBK/body weight, and BCM were significantly lower for the 51-70-year-old group compared with all other groups. The 51-70-year-old group with a BMI < 25 kg m(-2) had significantly lower TBK, TBK/height, and BCM than all other decades with a BMI < 25 kg m(-2); whereas TBK/body weight was significantly lower than the 18-30 and 31-40-year-old groups. The 51-70-year-old group with a BMI > 25 kg m(-2) had significantly lower TBK, TBK/height, TBK/body weight, and BCM than all other decades with a BMI > 25 kg m(-2).


CONCLUSIONS
TBK and BCM decrease significantly with ageing, which could result in decreased functional capacity in older adults.
De Lorenzo
A
A
Human Nutrition Unit, Via Montpellier 1, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00173 Rome, Italy. angela.andreoli@uniroma2.it
Andreoli
A
A
Battisti
P
P
Candeloro
N
N
Volpe
S L
SL
Di Daniele
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*
D011188:Potassium