Potassium-40 is a radioactive element present at ~100mM concentration inside the cells. It is capable of emitting either beta or gamma rays, both with energies > 1MeV. If all potassium intake is the stable potassium-39 or potassium-41, the amount of radical production and DNA damage by K-40 will be lowered.

The diet has two parts. First, the patient must consume a low potassium diet. Special nutritional supplements and shakes will likely be required. Secondly, the patient must take a potassium pill that does not contain potassium-40. I would imagine that a 1000mg daily dose would be astronomically expensive, but the diet is designed for reclusive billionaires, so cost is of no concern.
-- Cuit_au_Four, Apr 07 2010

// I would imagine that a 1000mg daily dose would be astronomically expensive //

Not really, since if you ingested a gram of pure metallic potassium you'd be unlikely to live to see another sunrise ... one dose is all that's needed.
-- 8th of 7, Apr 07 2010


A potassium pill implies pottassium salts, same as any other nutrition supplement, not pure metalic potassium. US RDA 3500mg

Cutting out all naturally occuring radioactives is going to be difficult though.
-- MechE, Apr 07 2010


As I understand it this is why potassium iodide is given to victims of radiation poisoning. Potassium-40 and iodine-131 are both unstable isotopes that the body can absorb. Providing it with a plentiful source of non-radioactive atoms makes it less likely to retain the dangerous radioactive ones.
-- Wrongfellow, Apr 07 2010


wait... are my bananas radioactive?
-- twitch, Apr 08 2010


Yes. Everything contains minute amounts of radioactivity, and you live in a blizzard of "cosmic rays" (highly energetic Gamma photons).

Happier now ?
-- 8th of 7, Apr 08 2010



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