Low potassium.

[Gernod]

Hi, can someone please explain why you become low in potassium when supplementing with b12. I am struggling with dehydration. I am drinking lots of water 3 liters a day. Does any know how much potassium tabs to take. Will it raise blood pressure. Thank you.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

If you have anaemia then the process that produces new red blood cells will use more potassium. This means that you can become potassium deficient in the early stages of treatment for a B12 deficiency if you had anaemia. This will be temporary and the period when low potassium is a possibility is limited to about a month.As PA is an absorption problem it can affect the absorption of other vitamins and minerals and I guess that could include potassium but diagnosis of potassium deficiency would really need diagnosis by a medic.

You might want to up your intake of potassium rich foods - banana and oranges are some of the possible sources.

Having too much potassium can cause problems so I wouldn't recommend supplementing unless under medical supervision.

If you are struggling with thirst that seems to have no reason (eg we have had some significant heatwaves in the UK which would up the loss of water eg through sweating and lead to greater thirst) then please go and see your GP as it could be an indicator of other conditions such as diabetes, easy to test and quite treatable).

[Gernod in reply to Gambit62]

Thank you for your reply. I will follow up with the oranges and bananas.