How Alcoholism Contributes to Electrolyte Disturbances

Disturbance	Major Cause(s)
Low sodium level (i.e., hyponatremia)	Massive intake of solute-free fluid (e.g., beer)
Low potassium level (i.e., hypokalemia)	Dietary deficiency or gastrointestinal losses Leaky membranes Extracellular-to-intracellular shifts
Low phosphorus level (i.e., hypophosphatemia)	Dietary deficiency or malabsorption Increased cellular uptake
Low magnesium level (i.e., hypomagnesemia)	Dietary deficiency or malabsorption Phosphorus deficiency

SOURCE: Adapted from Epstein, M. Alcohol and the kidney. In: Lieber, C.S., ed. Medical and Nutritional Complications of Alcoholism: Mechanisms and Management. New York: Plenum Medical Book Company, 1992. p. 502.