Q. Minerals requirements for ulcerative colitis?
Minerals: Mineral losses may be marked and unless replaced may contribute to a fatal outcome. A patient with moderately advanced ulcerative colitis passes a large volume over 400 ml of faeces per day and thus may lose considerable amount of sodium (G g Na Cl/litre of stool). Thus oral sodium intake is increased by added salt, sprinkling additional salt in foods. Potassium loss can be estimated as 30 m/Eq / 2.2 g of potassium chloride / litre. Usually high excretion of potassium even 167 m/Eq / day may sometimes be encountered. Manifestations of potassium deficiency such as weakness, hypotonia; abdominal distension and even electrocardiographic changes may occur. Oral administration of potassium salts as potassium citrate may be helpful.