Total body potassium is about 3500 mmol. Whole body counting also called total body counting measures the amount of naturally radioactive potassium 40 40 k in the body total body potassium or tbk.

Pdf The Development Of A Whole Body Potassium Counter For
Total body potassium measurement. Total body potassium was measured in 103 healthy adults using a shadow shield whole body monitor of high sensitivity. Kg mass estimation model based on total body potassium tbk. This procedure accurately determines the bodys total cell mass that is the active growing tissues in the body which in turn can be used to estimate fat free or lean body mass. The relationship between potassium level and total body potassium deficit is exponential figure below. Most potassium resides intracellularly and a small amount is in extracellular fluid 2 4. Why would i get this test.
1 mmol 1 milliequivalent meq or 391 mg potassium 3. Its important to note. The remaining 2 about 70 mmol is in the extracellular fluid. Mmol measured by whole body 40k counting wbc was developed sm 00082tbk and validated in adults in a previous study. A whole body skeletal muscle sm. Your body needs potassium to function normally.
As the potassium level falls progressively lower this represents an exponentially large increase in the total body potassium deficit. It is unknown whether the adult tbk sm prediction model is applicable for pediatric use. Two homeostatic systems help to maintain potassium homeostasis. A normal potassium level is between 36 and 52 millimoles per liter. The values obtained for total body potassium were correlated with height with weight and with height and weight. The total amount of potassium in the adult body is about 45 millimole mmolkg body weight about 140 g for a 175 pound adult.
Total body potassium tbk is a method for measuring body composition. Potassium 40 is a naturally occurring isotope found in a known amount 00118 in intracellular water and is not present in stored triglycerides. Approximately 98 of the total is intracellular primarily in skeletal muscle and to a lesser extent in liver. Its vital to the functioning of nerve and muscle cells. Your body should maintain a specific amount of potassium in the blood ranging from 36 to 52 millimoles per liter mmoll. Your doctor may want you to get a blood test.
The range of height was 147 to 192 cm of weight 43 to 92 kg and of age 18 to 77 years. K of 2 meql may correlate with a potassium deficit of 400 600 meq.