The effect of Gum Arabic on the level of plasma sodium, potassium and calcium in normal subjects

Abstract

Background: Gum Arabic (GA) is a dried exudate obtained from the stems of Acacia senegal and closely
related species of Acacia. Sudan is the world’s largest producer. Gum Arabic research is exploring its
beneficial effect on renal and cardiac diseases. Electrolyte levels in plasma are important in the management
of patients with renal and cardiac diseases. Gum Arabic contains calcium, potassium and sodium so its
intake may increase the level of these electrolytes in plasma which may constitute a hazard in these patients.
This research was designed to investigate the effects of GA on plasma level of these electrolytes.
Objective: The aim of the study wasto determine the effect of GAon the plasma levels ofsodium potassium
and calcium.
Materials & Methods: An intervention case control study was conducted in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum. Twenty nine subjects and 22 controls completed the study. All were normal females aged 16 -26 years. The intervention group consumed 30 grams of GA daily for eight weeks. The dose was divided equally into two: morning and evening. The levels of K+, Na+, and Ca++ were measured before and after the 8 weeks in both intervention subjects and controls. Kand Na+ levels were measured using flame photometry and Ca++ level was measured by colorimetric method.
Results: No significant change occurred in the plasma levels of all the electrolytes tested.
Plasma K+ level changed from 3.7 ± 0.42 to 3.6 ± 0.30 mmol/L (mean ± SD) in the intervention group and from 3.7 ± 0.40 to 3.7 ± 0.42 mmol/L in the control group (p= 0.36 ).
Plasma level of Na+ changed from 130 ± 7.2 to 130 ± 4.3 mmol/L (mean ± SD) in the intervention group and from 130 ± 5.6 to 130 ± 5.0 mmol/L in the control group (p= 0.9).
Plasma level of Ca++ changed from 9.1 ± 0.56 mg/dl to 9.9 ± 0.47 mg/dl within the intervention group,while in the control group the level changed from 9.3 ± 0.45 mg/dl to 9.61 ± 0.45 mg/dl (p=0.053).
Conclusion: Consumption of GA for up to 8 weeks didn’t adversely affect the level of electrolytes in normal subjects. However, its use in patients suffering from renal or cardiac diseases should be subjected to further studies.