Body potassium content and 40K radiation dose to Iranian subjects.

In this study 215 Iranian subjects including 180 males and 35 females were investigated for potassium body contents, its variations with age, weight, body build index, and slenderness, as well as the radiation dose due to 40K. The average total body potassium is 147 +/- 22 g for males and 100 +/- 16 g for females. The average potassium concentrations for males and females are 1.98 +/- 0.34 and 1.60 +/- 0.29 g kg(-1) body weight, respectively. The potassium content decreases with age for both sexes. The 40K concentration decreases with slenderness in both sexes, particularly in females. The total body potassium increases with body build index for males, while its value is constant for females less than 40 y, and increases for females more than 40 y. The average effective doses due to 40K are 187 +/- 32 microSv y(-1) for males and 150 +/- 27 microSv y(-1) for females.