Vomiting leads to hypokalemia via a complex pathogenesis. Gastric fluid itself contains little potassium, approximately 10 mEq/L. However, vomiting produces volume depletion and metabolic alkalosis, which are accompanied by increased renal potassium excretion.
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How does bulimia nervosa cause hypokalemia?
As a consequence of purging behaviors, pseudo-Bartter syndrome can develop due to chronic dehydration, placing patients at risk for electrolyte abnormalities such as hypokalemia, as well as marked and rapid edema formation when purging is interrupted.
How does bulimia affect potassium?
Potassium. Low potassium level, or hypokalemia, is the most serious consequence of bulimia because it causes heart arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), cardiomyopathy (weakening heart), muscle weakness that can border on paralysis, and tetany (involuntary muscle contractions)2.
Is hypokalemia associated with bulimia?
The typical electrolyte abnormalities associated with bulimia are hypokalemia and metabolic acidosis.
Why do you get hypokalemia in anorexia?
Inpatients with anorexia nervosa presumably have a higher risk of developing hypokalemia because they suffer from severe malnutrition and are refed [21], in which the insulin surge resulting from glycemia during the refeeding process causes a substantial intracellular uptake of potassium and phosphorus [20].
How does vomiting affect electrolytes?
Electrolyte and water loss Excessive vomiting, especially over a prolonged period of time, leads to excess loss of water and electrolytes from the body. Electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonates and chloride ions are essential for normal bodily functions.
How does bulimia cause metabolic acidosis?
Patients who purge by vomiting may present with metabolic alkalosis (elevated serum bicarbonate levels) due to volume contraction. However, patients who primarily abuse laxatives may present with metabolic acidosis (decreased serum bicarbonate levels) due to loss of alkaline fluid from the bowel.
What deficiencies does bulimia cause?
Bulimia can eventually lead to physical problems associated with not getting the right nutrients, vomiting a lot, or overusing laxatives. Possible complications include: feeling tired and weak. dental problems – stomach acid from persistent vomiting can damage tooth enamel.
Can not eating cause low potassium?
What are the causes (reasons) of low potassium? Hypokalemia is not commonly caused by poor dietary intake. The most common reason that potassium levels fall is due to the loss of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the kidney.
What ions are lost in vomiting?
The vomiting of gastric or intestinal contents most commonly involves the loss of fluid that contains chloride, potassium, sodium, and bicarbonate. The sequelae of these losses include dehydration along with hyponatremia, hypochloremia, and hypokalemia.
Does bulimia cause magnesium deficiency?
Frequent purging can cause malnutrition, especially low magnesium. A magnesium deficiency can also cause calcium and potassium deficiencies, as magnesium helps absorb and transport these electrolytes through the body. Symptoms of mild hypomagnesemia include: Twitches, especially in the facial muscles.
What is the most significant feature of bulimia?
Repeated episodes of eating abnormally large amounts of food in one sitting. Feeling a loss of control during bingeing — like you can’t stop eating or can’t control what you eat. Forcing yourself to vomit or exercising too much to keep from gaining weight after bingeing.
Does bulimia cause hypoglycemia?
Bulimia with bingeing and vomiting can also cause hypoglycemia and alter glucose levels.
How can bulimia cause dehydration?
Circulatory system. Frequent purging can cause dehydration. This leads to weak muscles and extreme fatigue. It can also throw your electrolytes out of balance and put strain on your heart.
Why is amylase increased in bulimia?
Hyperamylasemia, which has been reported in patients with the eating disorders anorexia nervosa and bulimia, generally has been thought to result from pancreatitis.
How does anorexia affect electrolytes?
The most frequent electrolyte imbalances seen in anorexia are hyponatremia (a low concentration of sodium ions in the bloodstream) and hypokalemia (a low concentration of potassium ions).
How is potassium lost during vomiting?
Although vomiting can cause fluid loss directly from gastrointestinal tract, potassium depletion in this setting is primarily due to increased urinary losses [2] from the fact that concentration of potassium in gastric secretions is only 5 to 10 mEq/L.
How does vomiting affect potassium?
Vomiting, diarrhea or both also can result in excessive potassium loss from the digestive tract. Occasionally, low potassium is caused by not getting enough potassium in your diet. Causes of potassium loss include: Alcohol use (excessive)
What does bulimia do to electrolytes?
Vomiting & Electrolytes Various side effects come along with purging behaviors. Each time you vomit, you lose fluid as well as food. You also lose the salts and electrolytes in your meals through your vomiting episodes. Both can lead to electrolyte imbalances.
Why does hypokalemia cause metabolic alkalosis?
Enhanced distal Na+ delivery results in increased K+ loss and increased net acid excretion, which sustains the metabolic alkalosis. Hypokalemia adds to net acid excretion and increases ammoniagenesis perpetuating the severity of metabolic alkalosis.
Which of the following electrolyte abnormalities is consistent with binge purging behavior?
Metabolic acidosis and alkalosis Metabolic alkalosis or a high serum bicarbonate (often denoted as carbon dioxide on lab reports) level is one of the most common electrolyte abnormalities seen in eating disorders associated with purging via vomiting.
Which eating disorder is most associated with electrolyte imbalances?
In anorexia nervosa, under-nutrition and weight regulatory behaviours such as vomiting and laxative abuse can lead to a range of biochemical problems. Hypokalaemia is the most common electrolyte abnormality.
What vitamins should bulimics take?
B Vitamins These vitamins are also important in preventing depression. The B vitamins that are most important to appetite control include vitamin B6, vitamin B12, inositol, and folate. They can be taken as individual supplements or, in many cases, taken together in the form of a B complex.
How do bulimics make themselves sick?
People with bulimia will often eat large amounts of food, or binge, and then try to get rid of the calories in what is called a purge. This often involves vomiting, excessive exercising, or abuse of laxatives or diuretics. This cycle of behaviors can cause problems to all parts of your body.
What is the most common cause of low potassium?
Typically, the potassium level becomes low because too much is lost from the digestive tract due to vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive laxative use. Sometimes too much potassium is excreted in urine, usually because of drugs that cause the kidneys to excrete excess sodium, water, and potassium (diuretics).