What are electrolytes and which ones are there?

What are electrolytes?

Electrolytes are minerals that play an important role in the body by, among other things, transmitting electrical signals. Well-known electrolytes are sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride, phosphate, bicarbonate and magnesium. They are absorbed through food and drink. Electrolytes help to regulate the fluid balance, control muscles and nerves and keep the pH value in the blood stable.

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What electrolytes are there and what are their functions?

Potassium

Potassium and sodium together regulate fluid balance. This works by these electrolytes attracting or retaining water and thus regulating the balance of fluids in and around your body cells. Electrolytes therefore ensure that water flows to where it is needed to keep cells healthy and functioning.

Potassium and sodium also play a central role in the transmission of nerve impulses. Together, they ensure that electrical signals are transmitted between nerves and muscles, which is essential for movement control and reflexes.

A lack of potassium can therefore lead to symptoms such as tiredness, muscle weakness and muscle twitching. A balanced potassium level, on the other hand, can help to stabilize your heart rhythm and prevent cramps.

Sodium:

Sodium also plays a major role in digestion: in addition to releasing digestive enzymes, it is essential for the absorption of protein building blocks (amino acids) and sugars in the blood. Sodium is osmotically active, i.e. it attracts water. This is important to ensure that drinking water is actually absorbed from the intestine. Optimal hydration is also an important factor influencing blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is essential for proper blood flow to the organs so that they are all supplied with sufficient oxygen and nutrients.

Too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure and damage organs such as the heart, kidneys and bones. On the other hand, extreme sporting events (e.g. marathons) can lead to a sodium deficiency, which is associated with serious health risks.

Magnesium:

Magnesium is needed to make the energy from food usable, but also to build up body tissue and organs. Magnesium coordinates communication between muscle and nerve cells by regulating the release of so-called neurotransmitters. Magnesium also ensures that the exchange of small charged particles (ions) through the cell walls functions smoothly. In this way, magnesium helps to protect the nerve cells from overstimulation, which is important for optimal muscle contraction and relaxation.

Chloride:

Chloride contributes to the regulation of the water balance by maintaining the osmotic pressure in the body fluids together with sodium and potassium. Chloride also helps the kidneys to reabsorb water, thus ensuring that not too much fluid is lost in the form of urine. Together with the two minerals, it also influences blood pressure, as it is crucial for blood volume and blood vessel tension. Chloride is also an essential component of the body’s acid-base buffer system.

Chloride is needed in the cells of the gastric mucosa to form stomach acid. This in turn lowers the pH value in the stomach, which helps to digest the proteins from meals. The acid also kills ingested pathogens.