Functions
- nerve and muscle function
- fluid balance
Deficiency
- muscle cramps
- weakness
- headache
- nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps
- dehydration
- confusion
- depression
- palpations
- impaired taste
- low blood pressure
- seizures
- deficiency rare in developed countries
- acute deficiency caused by extremely heavy perspiration
Characteristic
- Mineral
Good Sources
- table salt
- milk and dairy products
- meats
- also found in many processed foods
- drinking water (some locations)
Adequate Intakes (AI)
- Males and Females (19-51+ yrs.)
-
- 1,500 mg (1.5 g)
- 500 mg
-
- Children
- 10-18 yrs.
- 500 mg
- 6-9 yrs.
- 400 mg
- 2-5 yrs.
- 300 mg
- 1 yr
- 225 mg
- 10-18 yrs.
- Infants
- 7 mths-1 yr
- 200 mg
- birth-6 mths
- 120 mg
- 7 mths-1 yr
- Sufficient data to set RDA are unavailable
Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL)
- Adults (19 to 50 yrs)
- 2,300 mg (2.3 g)
- Intakes above UL may lead to negative health consequences.
- edema
- elevated blood pressure
- deseases of liver and kidneys
- potassium deficiency