Red-blood-cell potassium and hand-grip strength in healthy elderly people

Red-blood-cell potassium (RBCK) as an indicator of body potassium status was measured in 103 healthy elderly subjects over the age of 65 years. There was no correlation between RBCK and grip strength. The only significant predictors of grip strength were age and sex. The RBCK values formed a single normal distribution. There was no hypokalaemic subpopulation such as would be expected if potassium deficiency were common in these old people.