Abstract

Rose Chinwe Okoloekwe, Malachy Nwaeze Ezenwaeze*, Samuel Agina Igwe, Sylvester OnuegbunemNweze, Ngozi Okoro, Bartholomew Emeka Ojiogu, Livinus Nnanyelugo Onah, Kelvin Emeka Ortuanya, Sunday Mba and Chibugo Ndidiamaka Ezenwaeze

ABSTRACT

Potassium is one of the major electrolytes required for human metabolism. Deficiency in the Required Dietary Allowance (RDA) of potassium has been associated with health issues, particularly cardiovascular disease and hypertension. Some research has shown that a high percentage of the population do not consume enough potassium-rich foods due to the relatively high cost of such foods thereby resulting to undesirable high sodium to potassium (Na:K) ratio in the blood. This work investigated a low-cost means of supplementing the intake of potassium through drinking water that has been fortified with potassium. An edible source of potassium, Palm Bunch Ash (PBA) was identified and the appropriate amount to be added to drinking water was investigated. It was found that addition of 1 to 2ml (20-40 drops) of 17.5g/l PBA concentrate to 1 litre of water gave fortified drinking water which contains 17.5 to 35mg/l of potassium representing 0.4% to 0.8% of the RDA for potassium. The increase in serum potassium following consumption of the potassium fortified drinking water was found to be statistically significant even at p < 0.01.