Reduced hepatic fatty-acid synthesis and lowered plasma triacylglycerol (TG) in potassium deficient rats

Potassium deficiency was induced in rats by feeding a potassium- free synthetic diet containing 5% Resonium A. Feeding this diet for 1 week resulted in a decrease of plasma potassium by about 50% vs. pair fed controls. In hypokalemic rats hepatic fatty-acid synthesis and TG secretion by the liver were significantly reduced. In contrast the removal of an intravenous lipid load occurred optimally under this condition. As a consequence plasma TG levels were reduced in potassium-deficient rats.