Potassium Levels may be a Factor in Liver Disease

by | Nov 22, 2013 | 2013, Liver Health, Metabolic Syndrome, Potassium

Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. Those with the lowest 25% of potassium in the blood had 33% greater chance of having non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a condition that results from Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome (1) but also results from having abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, and abnormal lipid levels (called dyslipidemia) even before diabetes and metabolic syndrome are officially diagnosed (2). Despite the “tremendous” economic burden that comes with treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in type 2 diabetics ($245 billion in 2012 (3) and metabolic syndrome (60% higher costs compared to those without metabolic syndrome ($5,732 vs. $3,581) (4), few treatment options are available that specifically target the liver disease (5).

Now new research (6) suggests that potassium levels may be an indicator of impending liver problems. In the study, 8,592 residents of a community in Shanghai, China (Jiading district) between the ages of 48 and 68 provided information on alcohol intake and physical activity (7). They also provided blood samples and had a liver ultrasound to help diagnose nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

The researchers found a direct correlation between potassium levels in the blood and the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Specifically, those in the lowest 25% of blood potassium levels (2.54-3.85 milliMolar) had a 33% increased risk of having  nonalcoholic fatty liver disease compared to those in the highest 25% of blood potassium levels (4.39-5.50 mM, p < 0.0001). These differences in potassium blood levels also produced an 81% increased risk of insulin resistance (p < 0.0001) and a 58% increased risk for central obesity (defined as having a waist circumference greater than 35.4 inches in men and 31.4 inches cm in women (8), p < 0.0001).

When suggesting how potassium plays such a strong role in liver health, the researchers pointed to research showing low potassium levels to cause low nitric oxide level and blood vessel dysfunction (9, 10), both of which “may lead to insulin resistance, hypertriglyceridemia and glucose intolerance”. Regarding central obesity, the researchers cited studies suggesting low potassium levels to affect kidney hormones and function (11, 12).

For the researchers, “the present study demonstrates that decreased serum potassium level is … associated with the prevalence of NAFLD in a large population-based cohort” and that “Insulin resistance and central obesity may play an important role in this association.” In general animal products are lower in potassium and fruits and vegetables are higher, and future studies should determine if this is related to these results.

Source: Sun, Kan, et al. “Low serum potassium level is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and its related metabolic disorders.” Clinical endocrinology 80.3 (2014): 348-355.

© 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Posted August 27, 2013.

Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY.  You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com

References:

  1. Marchesini, G., Brizi, M., Bianchi, G. et al. (2001) Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a feature of the metabolic syndrome. Diabetes 2001; 50: 1844–1850.
  2. Marchesini, G., Bugianesi, E., Forlani, G. et al. (2003) Nonalcoholic fatty liver, steatohepatitis, and the metabolic syndrome. Hepatologyl 37: 917–923.
  3. “The Cost of Diabetes” posted on the American Diabetes Association website.
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  6. Sun K.  Low serum potassium level is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and its related metabolic disorders. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2013 Feb 13. doi: 10.1111/cen.12168. [Epub ahead of print]
  7. Reinert M.  High level of extracellular potassium and its correlates after severe head injury: relationship to high intracranial pressure. Journal of Neurosurgery 2000; 93: 800–807.
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  9. Reungjui S.  Thiazide-induced subtle renal injury not observed in states of equivalent hypokalemia. Kidney International 2007; 72: 1483–1492.
  10. Nakagawa T.  Diabetic endothelial nitric oxide synthase knockout mice develop advanced diabetic nephropathy. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology 2007; 18: 539–550.
  11. Kalupahana NS.  The reninangiotensin system: a link between obesity, inflammation and insulin resistance. Obesity Reviews 2012; 13, 136–149.
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