Determine Minerals Requirements at high altitude?
Increased urinary excretion of Nat and K+ on exposure to hypoxia is reported while some workers have found only increase in Na+ with a decrease in K+ excretion.
At high altitudes, though there is always a balance between blood formation and destruction, still there is no evidence for increased dietary iron requirements. The requirements of increased haemoglobin synthesis during early phase of stay at altitude are fulfilled by redistributing body stores and from dietary iron. Urinary excretion of Zn2+ is more during physical exertion as observed during an expedition to Mt Everest. Reduced zinc levels are associated with anorexia.