Effects of exercise testing, training and beta blockade on serum potassium in normal subjects

To evaluate the effects of exercise testing, training and beta blockade on serum potassium, 40 normal subjects (24 men, 16 women, mean age 33 years) had 4 maximal exercise tests with venipuncture for serum potassium before and less than or equal to 40 seconds after each test. After initial exercise testing, they were randomized to atenolol 50 mg daily, atenolol 100 mg daily, propranolol 80 mg twice daily or placebo. All began a 9-week dynamic exercise program for 8 weeks followed by a 1-week drug-free washout period. Tests were done after weeks 1, 8 and 9. A significant mean increase (p less than 0.05) in serum potassium occurred with maximal exercise in the atenolol 50 mg and propranolol groups after 1 week of treatment (mean +/- standard deviation, 4.78 +/- 0.29 to 5.09 +/- 0.43 mEq/liter and 4.81 +/- 0.55 to 5.30 +/- 0.33 mEq/liter). By week 8 after training, all beta blockade groups showed an increase in postmaximal exercise test serum potassium (atenolol 50 mg, 4.78 +/- 0.29 to 5.11 +/- 0.26 mEq/liter; atenolol 100 mg, 4.95 +/- 0.41 to 5.16 +/- 0.36 mEq/liter; propranolol, 4.81 +/- 0.55 to 5.05 +/- 0.29 mEq/liter). After washout, only the placebo group showed an increase in postmaximal test serum potassium (4.99 +/- 0.46 to 5.35 +/- 0.27 mEq/liter). Data indicate that hyperkalemia with maximal exercise testing increases after training with atenolol and propranolol compared to placebo and that this effect resolves once treatment is discontinued.