Hypertension & Macrominerals: Sodium, Potassium, "Chloride"

Question 1

What is chloride?

Answer 1

most abundant anion in EXTRAcellular fluid
primary source in diet: NaCl
(salt 60% Cl)

almost all absorbed in small intestine

Na+-glucose cotransport system chloride follows the actively absorbed Na+ passively through a PARACELLULAR pathway

Dysfunction of chloride transport seen in cystic fibrosis

Question 2

What is the function of chloride?

Answer 2

fluid balance

formation of gastric HCl

released from WBCs during phagocytosis

transports bicarbonate

Question 3

How do we excrete chloride?

Answer 3

excreted through GI tract, skin, and kidneys

Question 4

What is the intestinal chloride secretory mechanism?

Answer 4

1. Chloride is cotransported along w/ Na+ and K+ from the circulation across the basolateral membrane and into the mucosal cell
   (Na+/K+/Cl- cotransport)
2. Chloride then exits cell into lumen through “Cl- channels” in the apical membrane
3. the driving force is provided by active removal of Na+ by the Na+/K+ ATPase pump and recycling of K+ through K+ channels on basolateral membrane

Question 5

What is the UL of chloride?

Answer 5

UL = 3600 mg

Question 6

How do we assess the nutrient status of chloride?

Answer 6

evaluated through serum conc. but dependent on body water status
deficiency is rare