Naturopathic Nutrition: Potassium, Iodine & Sulphur

NATUROPATHIC
NUTRITION
Potassium, Iodine &
Sulphur
Much of the following material is sourced from Jamison, J
2003, Clinical Guide to Nutrition and Dietary Supplements in
Disease Management, Churchill Livingstone, Victoria
POTASSIUM
CHEMICAL SYMBOL: K+ (Alkaline)
MAJOR SOURCES: Potassium is an intracellular
ion so intact cells are a good source.
Particularly rich foods include asparagus,
beetroot, bok choy, cucumber, lettuce,
rhubarb, Avena sativa (oats), Taraxacum
officinale (dandelion) & Apium graveolens
(celery), potatoes, squash, spinach, lentils,
beans, peas, watermelon, raisins, orange
juice, bananas & rock melon. Potassium is
also found in animal sources such as meat and
milk.
POTASSIUM
RDI: none set

THERAPEUTIC RANGE: 3-8g
TOXICITY: Excessive doses causing
hyperkalaemia may cause muscle weakness,
confusion, anxiety, cardiac arrhythmia or
dyspnoea.
Contraindicated: Impaired kidney function
and kidney disease.
K
PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTIONS
 Maintenance of osmotic pressure & regulation of fluid
balance in body
 Nerve signal conduction
 Smooth & skeletal muscle contraction
 Maintenance of normal heart rhythm
 Involved with insulin in movement of blood glucose
into cells
 Needed for glycogen deposition in the liver and
skeletal muscle
 Regulation of blood pressure (works with Na+)
 Regulation of pH (carbonate buffering system)
 Energy production and ATP in mitochondria
K
SUB-CLINICAL DEFICIENCY
SIGNS
 Deficiency signs reasonably rare and usually
caused by high excretion rather than low intake
or excessive sodium to potassium ratio. E.g.
saline drips, laxatives, diuretics (caffeine), high
salt intake, diarrhoea and vomiting.
 Diarrhoea & nausea
 Abdominal discomfort & flatulence
 Muscle fatigue and weakness
 Cramps/weakness/tingling
 High blood pressure
 Confusion and irritability
 Heart arrhythmias or palpitations
(High levels of potassium ↓ heart rate)
 Fluid retention (elevated Na levels)
K
THERAPEUTIC USES
 Neuromuscular disorders: nerve tingling,
muscle cramps, paralysis or weakness due to
loss of nerve excitation
 Cardiovascular disorders: heart arrhythmias
or palpitations, hypertension (2.5-5gm/day),
angina, stroke.
 Metabolic disorders: diarrhoea, colitis, low
blood sugar levels, acidity, fluid retention
 Athletes
K
OTHER COMMENTS &
WARNINGS
 Alcohol, sugar, vomiting, diarrhea, abuse
of laxatives, corticosteroids and excessive
sweating increase K excretion.
 Salt substitutes are usually KCl.
 May interact with medications for
hypertension. Clients on Angiotenin-
converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) and
NSAIDs have an increased risk of
hyperkalaemia so supplementation should
be avoided.
K
OTHER COMMENTS &
WARNINGS
 Hypokalaemia lowers the threshold for
Digoxin toxicity.
 Corticosteroids and thiazide diuretics
can potentially induce hypokalaemia.
Such medications are often prescribed
concurrently with Digoxin.
 Herbal medicines and foods containing
significant amounts of potassium may
increase the threshold for Digoxin
efficacy. Braun, L. & Cohen, M 2010, Herbs & Natural Supplements: An
evidence-based guide, 3 edn, Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, Sydney
rd
(p. 107)
Much of the following material is sourced from Braun, L. & Cohen, M
2010, Herbs & Natural Supplements: An evidence-based guide, 3rd edn,
Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, Sydney (pp. 614-622)
IODINE/IODIDE
 Iodine: the form found in foods
 Iodide: the form used in the body
 Chemical Symbol: I-
 Major Sources: High in saltwater so all
sea-dwelling creatures (animal or plant)
are considered good sources e.g. Seawater
fish, shellfish, sea vegetables / seaweed.
Also iodised salt, dairy foods and fortified
bread.
 Contraindicated: In any form of thyroid disease
unless under medical supervision.
IODINE/IODIDE
 “Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has

developed a mandatory iodine fortification regulation to
help address the re-emergence of iodine deficiency
across most of the population. This regulation requires
the replacement of non-iodised salt with iodised salt in all
bread, except organic bread. From October 2009, most
bread in Australia and New Zealand will contain added
iodine.”
http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/scienceandeducation/factsheets/factsheets200
9/mandatoryiodineforti4390.cfm
IODINE/IODIDE
 RDI: 150 μg
 Upper Limit: 1,100μg
 THERAPEUTIC RANGE: 100-1000 μg
 TOXICITY: >2000 μg/day may cause GIT irritation,
abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea,
cardiovascular symptoms.
 Note that excess doses have potential to cause both hypo
and hyperthyroidism.
 Excess iodine in pregnancy may increase risk of postpartum
thyroiditis.
 Intake at very high doses may cause a brassy taste in the
mouth, increased salivation, GIT irritation and acneiform
skin lesions.
PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTIONS:
 Thyroid hormone production

 Thyroid contains 80% of body’s iodine pool
 Used to manufacture T3 and T4 which control:
 Growth
 Maturation
 Thermogenesis
 Oxidation
 Myelination of CNS
 Metabolism of all tissues.
IODINE/IODIDE
 CLINICAL DEFICIENCY DISEASE:
 Iodine intake <20 micrograms daily will cause
deficiency.
 Moderate deficiency in adults usually causes
goitre (from thyroid hypertrophy). Most cases
remain euthyroid (i.e. Having normal thyroid
function).
 Severe iodine deficiency results in:
 Myxoedema in adults(swelling of hands, face,
feet and peri-orbital tissues leading to coma and
death).
 Cretinism in children (usually from deficiency
during pregnancy).
IODINE/IODIDE
 SUB-CLINICAL DEFICIENCY SIGNS:
 Weakness, fatigue & sleepiness
 Dry skin
 Cold intolerance
 Hair loss
 Poor memory & concentration
 Constipation
 Reduced appetite & weight gain
 Dyspnoea
IODINE/IODIDE
 SUB-CLINICAL DEFICIENCY SIGNS:
 Hoarse voice
 Increase risk of infection & CVD
 Parathesia
 Peripheral oedema (puffy hands, feet)
 Impaired hearing
 Menorrhagia followed by amenorrhoea)
 Carpal tunnel & entrapment syndromes
 Bradycardia
IODINE/IODIDE
THERAPEUTIC USES:
 Hypothyroidism: List of signs & symptoms
on previous two slides.
 Pregnancy: To prevent cretinism and
attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
 Children / adolescents: Growing evidence of
generalised iodine deficiency. Associated with
poor performance at school and learning
disabilities. Incidence of deficiency may
decrease with mandatory fortification of bread.
 Fibrocystic breast disease: May improve
pain and fibrosis in FBD.
 Breast Cancer: May play a preventative role.
IODINE/IODIDE
 Goitrogens: Substances that interfere with iodine
use or thyroid hormone production. Include
thiocynates in Brassicas (cabbage, kale, cauliflower,
broccoli, turnips & Brussels sprouts) and in flaxseed,
cassava, millet & soybean. Reduce in
hypothyroidism and separate from supplementation.
 Smoking: Increases thiocynate levels.
 Soy: A goitrogen on two fronts. Inhibits iodine
absorption and inhibits T3 and T4 production.
Minimize soy consumption in suspected
hypothyroidism and when client is taking thyroid
hormones.
 Selenium: Intrinsic to metabolism and activity of
thyroid hormones – supplement concurrently.
SULPHUR
 CHEMICAL SYMBOL: S
 Elemental constituent of cysteine, methionine,
glutathione, thiamin, pantothenic acid & biotin)
 MAJOR SOURCES: Protein foods (e.g. Meats, eggs,
fish, dairy), garlic, onions, cabbage, brussel sprouts,
asparagus, legumes, wholegrains, brazil nuts, &
seeds.
 RDA: None
 THERAPEUTIC RANGE: Not supplemented – obtain
through sulphur rich foods and amino acid
supplementation.
 Deficiency or Toxicity unlikely: >3g/day of
elemental sulphur can cause skin rash, nausea,
vomiting, kidney damage.
PHYSIOLOGICAL
ACTIONS:
 Stored in every cell of the body
 Component of amino acids & vitamins, sulfur is
involved in many other metabolic reactions eg. CoA
(activated B5 in Krebs cycle)
 Necessary for collagen synthesis along with protein
 Prevalent in keratin (tough protein responsible for
strength and health of hair, skin and nails. Puts a
wave into hair.)
 Found in insulin, helps regulate CHO metabolism
 Bile production & detoxification (part of glutathione
peroxidase)
 Antibacterial (garlic oil is 80% sulphur)
SULFUR
 CLINICAL DEFICIENCY DISEASE:
None
 SUB-CLINICAL DEFFICIENCY SIGNS:
 Weak & brittle hair and nails
 Pasty complexion, eczema
 Diarrhoea, stool highly offensive
 Intolerance to fats
 Deficiency unusual but vegetarians with poor
diet may be at risk.
THERAPEUTIC USES:
LIVER: detoxification, elimination of metabolic
waste, pollution & radiation. High cholesterol.
GIT: Constipation, intolerance to fats and alcohol.
HAIR, SKIN AND NAILS: psoriasis, eczema,
dermatitis, ringworm, weak hair and nails
ARTHRITIS: Sulfur in cysteine & “Joint Foods” is
used for arthritis

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NATUROPATHIC

RDI: none set

 “Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has

 Thyroid hormone production

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