The total amount of potassium is usually on the order of 50 mmolkg of body weight so a 70 kg individual has a store of about 3500 mmol of potassium. Its vital to the functioning of nerve and muscle cells.
New Human Physiology Ch 24
Total body potassium measurement. A whole body skeletal muscle sm. Its important to note. 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. It is unknown whether the adult tbk sm prediction model is applicable for pediatric use. A normal potassium level is between 36 and 52 millimoles per liter. Why would i get this test.
Your body should maintain a specific amount of potassium in the blood ranging from 36 to 52 millimoles per liter mmoll. Mmol measured by whole body 40k counting wbc was developed sm 00082tbk and validated in adults in a previous study. Your body needs potassium to function normally. Potassium 40 is a naturally occurring isotope found in a known amount 00118 in intracellular water and is not present in stored triglycerides. 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. In the entire extracellular fluid which is approximately 20 of body weight or 14 l in a 70 kg person the total potassium content is 50 to 60 mmol.
Total body potassium tbk is a method for measuring body composition. Your doctor may want you to get a blood test. Kg mass estimation model based on total body potassium tbk.