Potassium Homeostasis: The Knowns, the Unknowns, and the Health Benefits

Potassium homeostasis has a very high priority because of its importance for membrane potential. Although extracellular K(+) is only 2% of total body K(+), our physiology was evolutionarily tuned for a high-K(+), low-Na(+) diet. We review how multiple systems interface to accomplish fine K(+) balance and the consequences for health and disease.