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Potassium Regulation during Exercise and Recovery

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The concentrations of extracellular and intracellular potassium (K+) in skeletal muscle influence muscle cell function and are also important determinants of cardiovascular and respiratory function. Several studies over the years have shown that exercise results in a release of K+ ions from contracting muscles which produces a decrease in intracellular K+ concentrations and an increase in plasma K+ concentrations. Following exercise there is a recovery of intracellular K+ concentrations in previously contracting muscle and plasma K+ concentrations rapidly return to resting values. The cardiovascular and respiratory responses to K+ released by contracting muscle produce some changes which aid exercise performance. Increases in the interstitial K+ concentrations of contracting muscles stimulate CIII and CIV afferents to directly stimulate heart rate and the rate of ventilation. Localised K+ release causes a vasodilatation of the vascular bed within contracting muscle. This, together with the increase in cardiac output (through increased heart rate), results in an increase in blood flow to isometrically contracted muscle upon cessation of contraction and to dynamically contracting muscle. This exercise hyperaemia aids in the delivery of metabolic substrates to, and in the removal of metabolic endproducts from, contracting and recovering muscle tissues. In contrast to the beneficial respiratory and cardiovascular effects of elevations in interstitial and plasma K+ concentrations, the responses of contracting muscle to decreases in intracellular K+ concentrations and increases in intracellular Na+ concentrations and extracellular K+ concentrations contribute to a reduction in the strength of muscular contraction. Muscle K+ loss has thus been cited as a major factor associated with or contributing to muscle fatigue. The sarcolemma, because of changes in intracellular and extracellular K+ concentrations and Na+ concentrations on the membrane potential and cell excitability, contributes to a fatigue ‘safety mechanism’. The purpose of this safety mechanism would be to prevent the muscle cell from the self-destruction which is evident upon overload (metabolic insufficiency) of the tissues. The net loss of K+ and associated net gain of Na+ by contracting muscles may contribute to the pain and degenerative changes seen with prolonged exercise. During exercise, mechanisms are brought into play which serve to regulate cellular and whole body K+ homeostasis. Increased rates of uptake of K+ by contracting muscles and inactive tissues through activation of the Na+-K+ pump serve to restore active muscle intracellular K+ concentrations towards precontraction levels and to prevent plasma K+ concentrations from rising to toxic levels. These effects are at least partially mediated by exercise-induced increases in plasma catecholamines, particularly adrenaline. Upon cessation of exercise intracellular K+ concentrations rapidly recover towards resting values, and this is associated with improvements in muscle contraction. Training may result in an increase in intracellular K+ concentrations of resting muscle and relatively lower plasma K+ concentrations compared to values reported in untrained individuals. Also, a blunting of the exercise-induced hyperkalaemia in trained individuals is associated with a decrease in the net loss of K+ from contracting muscle; these observations have been attributed to an upregulation of Na+-K+ pump activity in both inactive tissues and active muscle.
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... Extracellular and intracellular K concentrations influence skeletal muscle function. 3 When muscles contract (activity), intracellular K concentrations decrease and plasma K concentrations increase. When muscles are at rest (recovery), the recovering muscles and noncontracting tissues remove K from plasma. ...
... Subject were fed 40 mmol K, three times a day. 3 ) 0.739 ± 0.120 0.773 ± 0.115 0.803 ± 0.110 Femur Neck BMD (g/cm 3 ) 0.589 ± 0.107 0.622 ± 0.103 0.650 ± 0.105 ...
... Subjects with certain medical conditions were excluded and two weeks without antihypertension medicine was required before the study. Subject were fed 40 mmol K, three times a day. 3 ) 0.739 ± 0.120 0.773 ± 0.115 0.803 ± 0.110 Femur Neck BMD (g/cm 3 ) 0.589 ± 0.107 0.622 ± 0.103 0.650 ± 0.105 ...
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... Physical activity with repetitive action potentials that occur across myocyte membranes is associated with the release of large amounts of K+ from contracting skeletal muscle. Moreover, blood potassium is also elevated due to the exercise-evoked haemoconcentration, which is caused by the shift of fluid from plasma into the interstitial and intracellular compartments (Lindinger and Sjøgaard 1991). During repeated bouts of exercise and generation of action potentials, the efficiency of muscular sodium-potassium pumps to pump back the same amount of K+ that was lost with repolarizing K+ currents appears to be insufficient. ...
... Sejersted 1990). Such high plasma potassium is closely related to muscle fatigue and exercise cessation, preventing further K+ rise to toxic levels (Lindinger and Sjøgaard 1991). In addition, it seems that right after exercise cessation, the sympathetic drive with high catecholamines may contribute to increased sodium-potassium pump efficiency, possibly by raising the pump's sensitivity to elevated intracellular sodium concentration, which initiates rapid K+ fall (Medbø and Sejersted 1990). ...
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Life-threatening electrolyte abnormalities, such as sudden changes in serum potassium, cause or contribute to fatal cardiac consequences, including cardiac arrest. Here we present a case of a 57-year-old man with unrecognized hypokalaemia who experienced exercise-related out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Successful CPR was initiated immediately; however, he remained in a coma for four days. The patient had no other comor-bidities except a history of mild hypertension treated with low doses of angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) combined with thiazide. On admission: sinus heart rhythm 80 bpm, potassium level 2.8 mmol/l, Glasgow Coma Scale 3, blood pressure normal. Coronary angiography did not show any coronary occlusion. Other additional tests were nonspecific. Upon awakening, he had major confusion with severe memory deficits. A week later, he was able to walk and was discharged from the hospital. Seventeen months later, the patient still struggles with severe cognitive impairment, lack of motivation, muscle weakness, and fatigue. He requires special care, including supervision and help with activities of daily living. Although the exact cause of hypokalaemia remained unrecognized, several probable mechanisms were taken into consideration.
... In addition, it has been shown that serum potassium concentrations increase in proportion to exercise intensity [32]. This is due to the transfer of potassium from the intracellular pool to extracellular regions with muscle contraction [33]. Furthermore, the effects of IDE on potassium have been reported to suppress the acute rebound in serum levels after dialysis [10] and to reduce midterm serum levels [12,34,35]. ...
... It is known that serum total protein levels increase during exercise due to the influx of protein into blood vessels with exercise [21]. In addition, local potassium release from muscle cells during exercise has been shown to increase capillary surface area and blood flow in exercise muscles, facilitating the collection of various substances including metabolic end products [32,33]. In our study, the tendency to increase loss of albumin with high-intensity exercise may have resulted from reduced intercompartmental resistance associated with potassium release during exercise. ...
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PurposeIntradialytic exercise may improve dialysis efficiency; however, the association between changes in blood volume (BV) related to exercise intensity and solute removal kinetics remains unknown. We herein investigated the relationship between changes in BV with exercise and removal of solute molecules during hemodialysis.Methods Each of the 21 hemodialysis patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise test to measure anaerobic threshold (AT). According to the exercise intensity, patients were classified into two groups, the low group (n = 12), whose intensity was below the AT, and the high group (n = 9), whose intensity was at the AT level. Each patient completed two trial arms of resting and discontinuous exercise dialysis sessions in a randomized manner.ResultsThe change in BV with the exercise dialysis session in the high group decreased during exercise (p = 0.028) and remained decreased after exercise (p = 0.016), compared with the low group. In the low group, compared with routine sessions, the removal of potassium (p = 0.030), phosphate (p = 0.024), and urea nitrogen (p = 0.065) increased during exercise, but the total removal of these solutes did not change. In the high group, the removal of phosphate (p < 0.001) and urea nitrogen (p = 0.018) after exercise and even total phosphate (p = 0.027) decreased.Conclusion These findings suggest that the removal of small solute molecules is improved during exercise in intradialytic low-intensity exercise with no change in BV, and decreased after exercise in high-intensity exercise with a decrease in BV.Clinical Trials RegistryTrial retrospectively registered at the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry: study number UMIN000038629 (Registration date: September 7, 2019).
... Among the wide variety of molecules and ions, potassium (K + ) was selected as an optimal candidate for the first validation the ion biosensing. Sweat potassium ion monitoring represents an interesting biomarker to be correlated with several pathological conditions, such as cardiovascular issues, muscular fatigue, or dehydration [10]. Potentiometric sensors selective for K + were designed relying on a standard layout with 2 electrodes, a reference (RE) and a working electrode (WE). ...
... Maintaining blood sodium concentrations is critical for an athlete's health, with the effects of exercise-associated hyponatraemia being a major source of concern. Potassium ions, on the other hand, are released from contracting muscles during exercise, leading to an increase in plasma potassium concentrations and a decrease in intracellular potassium concentrations [108]. Within the urinary system, aldosterone, a mineralocorticoid hormone, plays an important role in the regulation of electrolytes by acting on the distal renal tubes [109]. ...
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Physiological and biological markers in different body fluids are used to measure the body’s physiological or pathological status. In the field of sports and exercise medicine, the use of these markers has recently become more popular for monitoring an athlete’s training response and assessing the immediate or long-term effects of exercise. Although the effect of exercise on different physiological markers using various body fluids is well substantiated, no article has undertaken a review across multiple body fluids such as blood, saliva, urine and sweat. This narrative review aims to assess various physiological markers in blood, urine and saliva, at rest and after exercise and examines physiological marker levels obtained across similar studies, with a focus on the population and study methodology used. Literature searches were conducted using PRISMA guidelines for keywords such as exercise, physical activity, serum, sweat, urine, and biomarkers, resulting in an analysis of 15 studies for this review paper. When comparing the effects of exercise on physiological markers across different body fluids (blood, urine, and saliva), the changes detected were generally in the same direction. However, the extent of the change varied, potentially as a result of the type and duration of exercise, the sample population and subject numbers, fitness levels, and/or dietary intake. In addition, none of the studies used solely female participants; instead, including males only or both male and female subjects together. The results of some physiological markers are sex-dependent. Therefore, to better understand how the levels of these biomarkers change in relation to exercise and performance, the sex of the participants should also be taken into consideration.
... During the 4-month research period, the strength endurance training was replaced with more tactical training and games, in line with this, after the end of the regular season, we detected an elevated level of triglyceride, uric acid, and potassium, and a decreased level of urea, creatinine kinase, and Vitamin D. A higher triglyceride level might be caused by the relatively higher fat intake (5.44 g/kg/day), while signi cantly higher uric acid level by the higher training volume and exercise intensity [21]. The high potassium concentration in the blood is a response for muscle contraction, therefore also associated with higher training volume [22]. The insu cient protein intake can also be determined with the low urea level, while the decreased level of vitamin D may be associated with the overload of players. ...
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Background: Water polo is unique among aquatic - and generally other - sports and in general compared to other sports as it includes cyclic elements typical in swimming and acyclic elements occurring mainly in ball games. Moreover, Wwater polo includes high- and low-intensity activities and demands high level of technical and tactical skills. Players need an optimal nutritional and physical condition to achieve a high athletic performance, which is to a great extend also influenced by nutritional habits. We aim to highlight possible shortfalls in players’ nutritional intake in relation to positions played within the team. Methods: In the present study, we determined the anthropometric and body composition characteristics, dietary habits, and laboratory parameters of elite adult male water polo players (n=19) before the start of the championship and at the end of the regular season, which meant a 4-month intervention period. Analyses of body composition characteristics and nutritional habits were performed using bioimpedance analyzer InBody 770 and3-day nutrition diary. Variance analysis and paired-sample t-test were used to determine the differences between the variables measured before and after the championship. Correlations Association between the anthropometric and body composition characteristics and different serum parameters were analyzed using linear correlation calculation and deep learning multivariable regression method. K-mean cluster analysis was performed using the anthropometric and body composition characteristics of the athletes. Results: Based on anthropometric and body composition characteristics, players can be divided into two significantly different clusters that shows an association with specific playing positions. Cluster I included goalkeepers and wing players, while cluster II contained defenders, centers centers, and shooters belonged to Cluster II. We observed differences between in the physical composition and nutritional habits of the clusters. Cluster I players were 5 cm shorter on average, while their mean body weight, skeletal muscle mass and body fat mass data were lower by 19 kg, 7kg and 7 kg, respectively. Various body composition characteristics can predict the InBody Score with 92% efficacy using the deep learning method, while laboratory parameters can predict it with 95% efficacy. Body composition characteristics and laboratory parameters can predict the InBody Score with 92% and 95% efficacy using multivariable regression method. These results may be applicable in sport sciences for elite athletes and sports coaches. Conclusions: Cluster differences between anthropometric and body compositional characteristics can help to develop position-specific training and nutritional recommendations in the future, thereby the results may be applicable in sport sciences for elite athletes and sports coaches.
... In this study, although not different between groups, potassium ratios changed significantly within each group but remained within the normal range and appeared to consistent with the physiological response of potassium during acute exercise. Potassium loss is a major factor contributing to muscle fatigue (Lindinger & Sjogaard, 1991); but in the study, the participants in both groups had higher potassium levels before the intervention. This may be related to a potassium shift following strenuous exercise, change in blood flow to skeletal muscles, intracellular acidosis or possible insufficient fluid intake (Warburton et al., 2002). ...
... A higher triglyceride level might be caused by the relatively higher fat intake (5.44 g/kg/day), while significantly higher uric acid level by the higher training volume and exercise intensity [23]. The high potassium concentration in the blood is a response to muscle contraction and therefore also associated with higher training volume [24]. The insufficient protein intake can also be determined with the low urea level, while the decreased level of vitamin D may be associated with the overload of players. ...
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Background Water polo is unique among aquatic—and generally other—sports as it includes cyclic elements typical in swimming and acyclic elements occurring mainly in ball games. Moreover, water polo demands high level of technical and tactical skills. Players need an optimal nutritional and physical condition to achieve high athletic performance, which is to a great extend influenced by nutritional habits. We aim to highlight possible shortfalls in players’ nutritional intake in relation to positions played within the team. Methods In the present study, we determined the anthropometric and body composition characteristics, dietary habits and laboratory parameters of elite adult male water polo players (n = 19) before the start of the championship and at the end of the regular season, which meant a 4-month intervention period. Analyses of body composition characteristics and nutritional habits were performed using bioimpedance analyzer InBody 770 and a 3-day nutrition diary, respectively. Paired-sample t-test were used to determine the differences between the variables measured before and after the championship. Correlations between the anthropometric and body composition characteristics and different serum parameters were analyzed using linear correlation calculation. K-mean cluster analysis was performed using the anthropometric and body composition characteristics of the athletes. Results Based on anthropometric and body composition characteristics, players can be divided into two significantly different clusters that shows an association with specific playing positions. Cluster I included goalkeepers and wing players, while defenders, centers, and shooters belonged to Cluster II. We observed significant differences in the physical composition and slight but not significant differences in nutritional habits of the clusters. Cluster I players were 5 cm shorter on average, while their mean body weight, skeletal muscle mass and body fat mass data were lower by 19 kg, 7 kg, and 7 kg, respectively. We studied the correlation between initial anthropometric and body composition parameters and the changes in laboratory parameters before and after the regular season. As a result, we detected numerous significant differences between the two clusters, such as the changes in glucose and magnesium levels, which showed a strong correlation with several body composition parameters in cluster II, but did not in cluster I. Conclusions Cluster differences between anthropometric and body compositional characteristics, and the changes in laboratory parameters can help to develop position-specific training and nutritional recommendations in the future. Therefore, the results may be applicable in sport sciences for elite athletes and sports coaches.
... Notably, the most significant difference between S28 and S18-21 is that tail can move freely at S28 but not at S18-21, and muscle activity was reported to associate with potassium displacements. Importantly, muscle K + homeostasis contributes to muscle fatigue and recovery [12,13]. It is intriguing that tadpole tail muscle can keep K + homeostasis under the almost nonstop contracting. ...
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Introduction: Tadpole tail develops from the tailbud, an apparently homogenous mass of cells at the posterior of the embryo. While much progress has been made in understanding the origin and the induction of the tailbud, the subsequent outgrowth and differentiation have received much less attention, particularly with regard to global gene expression changes. Methods: By using RNA-seq with SMRT and further analyses, we report the transcriptome profiles at four key stages of tail development, from a small tailbud to the onset of feeding (S18, S19, S21 and S28) in Microhyla fissipes, an anuran with a number of advantages for developmental and genetic studies. Results: We obtained 48,826 transcripts and discovered 8807 differentially expressed transcripts (DETs, q < 0.05) among these four developmental stages. We functionally classified these DETs by using GO and KEGG analyses and revealed 110 significantly enriched GO categories and 6 highly enriched KEGG pathways (Protein digestion and absorption; ECM-receptor interaction; Pyruvate metabolism; Fatty acid degradation; Valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation; and Glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism) that are likely critically involved in developmental changes in the tail. In addition, analyses of DETs between any two individual stages demonstrated the involvement of distinct biological pathways/GO terms at different stages of tail development. Furthermore, the most dramatic changes in gene expression profile are those between S28 and any of the other three stages. The upregulated DETs at S28 are highly enriched in "myosin complex" and "potassium channel activity", which are important for muscle contraction, a critical function of the tail that the animal needs by the end of embryogenesis. Additionally, many DETs and enriched pathways discovered here during tail development, such as HDAC1, Hes1 and Hippo signaling pathway, have also been reported to be vital for the tissue/organ regeneration, suggesting conserved functions between development and regeneration. Conclusion: The present staudy provides a golbal overview of gene expression patterns and new insights into the mechanism involved in anuran tail development and regeneration.
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1.1. Intact rat extensor digitorum longus muscles soaked in l-isoproterenol plus 10−5 M ouabain gained less sarcoplasmic Na+ than did muscle soaked in ouabain alone. Half maximal effect was produced by 10−8 M l-isoproterenol.2.2. d-Isoproterenol and oxidized l-isoproterenol were only 3 and 1%, respectively, as potent as l-isoproterenol. Other catechols tested had no effect.3.3. The effect of l-isoproterenol on sarcoplasmic Na+ content appears to be a β-adrenergic function in that it was blocked by propranolol, but not by phentolamine, and could be mimicked by dibutyryl cyclic AMP or by caffeine.4.4. Reduced gain in sarcoplasmic Na+ was accompanied by reduced loss of sarcoplasmic K+.5.5. l-Isoproterenol increased loss of sarcoplasmic Na+ in the absence of ouabain, in muscles recovering from cold treatment.6.6. Results suggest that the β-adrenergic system stimulates a coupled Na+-K+ pump.7.7. A model is proposed in which stimulation of the Na+-K+ pump in response to β-adrenergic agents involves a number of intermediate steps, identified tentatively.
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Nine volunteers have been examined during prolonged physical exercise to exhaustion at a load of about 60 per cent of W 170 . Ordinary circulatory parameters were measured as well as the quantities of glycogen, water and electrolytes in muscle tissue obtained by needle biopsy. In a separate study 6 subjects were examined for respiratory quotient under similar exercising conditions. The muscle glycogen fell considerably from a mean of 6.9 per 100g glycogen and fat‐free solids to a mean of 1.7 g at the end of exercise. The quantity of muscle glycogen used was correlated both to total energy developed during exercise and also to duration of exercise. The electrolyte and water content in muscle tissue showed only small changes. Some increase was found in muscle sodium and chloride, and also in the chloride space. The potassium content fell significantly by about 4 per cent of the basal value. None of the circulatory parameters measured showed changes of such magnitude as to have a limiting effect on performance. Two subjects were examined also with glucose infusion during the exercise. The reduction of glycogen, as also the performance of these two subjects, was of the same order of magnitude with and without infusion of glucose. The results suggest that the capacity for prolonged work is directly correlated to the glycogen store in the working muscles.