i have found that in general , the abnormal cells and tissues in the body have free lipids . thus , a lipid or compound having a lipidic character introduced into the body can be selectively taken by the abnormal cells . accordingly , it is believed that a potassium compound having lipidic properties is useful as a therapeutic agent for patients who have such abnormal cells . i have found that potassium can be incorporated in the molecule of a fatty acid by heating together an organic or inorganic salt of potassium with a fatty acid or its oil . preferably , the fatty acid or oil is previously oxidized by being heated and mixed with air or oxygen . the mixtures of potassium and fatty acids or oil are heated at a temperature above about 230 ° c . for a time until an exothermic reaction is observed , which reaction indicates that the incorporation is taking place . examples of the potassium / fatty acid or oil compositions that can be used according to the invention include the reaction products of allylic unsaturated fatty acids or esters and a potassium salt . these reaction products are produced by heating a liquid composition containing a fatty acid or fatty ester , structurally characterized by allylic unsaturation with a potassium salt . applicant believes that any potassium salt may be used in this invention . preferably , the potassium salt is an organic potassium salt such as potassium acetate or potassium carbonate , and the liquid is preferably oxidized for example , by bubbling air or oxygen through the reaction mixture . the allylically unsaturated compound is preferably a naturally occurring oil containing polyunsaturated fatty esters , such as an animal , vegetable , or fish oil , and , particularly , polyunsaturated vegetable oils . sesame oil , a vegetable oil consisting largely of triglycerides , is the most advantageous composition found to date in the practice of this invention . the composition utilized should contain a significant percentage of molecular species having allylic moieties to render the compositions useful according to the invention . such moieties are indicated by the following partial structures -- ch ═ ch -- ch 2 -- ch ═ ch -- and / or -- ch ═ ch -- ch ═ ch -- ch 2 --. as indicated , the unsaturation can be conjugated or nonconjugated , but the composition must contain allylic methylene hydrogen . such compositions may initially be oxidized or heated in the presence of air or oxygen at the temperature range between about 100 ° c . and about 150 ° c . the oxygen can be obtained by merely heating the composition in a vessel which is open to the atmosphere , but preferably and advantageously , the source of oxygen is a gas such as air which is injected into the heated oil . introduction of air also provides a source of agitation . the heating step is conducted for a period of from about 15 minutes to about two hours . the temperature should be maintained at an upper limit within the range of about 230 ° c . to 250 ° c ., and preferably about 235 ° c . to 240 ° c . these temperature limitations are based on a heating time of about one - half hour . the temperatures can be altered within limits depending on the time of heating . for example , when the temperature is about 235 ° c ., the time is about one - half hour , while temperatures as high as 250 ° c . require a shorter period of time for heating . higher temperatures for a prolonged period of time tend to degrade the composition and should thus be avoided . agitation , by stirring for example , aids in the reaction , and experiments to date indicate that a fairly violent stirring is advantageous . the introduction of air into the mixture during the heating is also very advantageous , particularly when the mixture is not subjected to prolonged heating and thus , is the preferred method . the mixing or stirring can be accomplished with the introduction of the air . after the reaction has taken place , the mixture is cooled . the remaining fluid is ready for use after appropriate sterilization for injection or incorporated into capsules , such as gelatin , for oral administration . the precise nature of the compositions which result from the above - described treatment or the identity of the effective component or components is not presently known . it is known , however , that these compositions do include potassium and that a proportion of potassium in the range of about 1 to 10 weight percent has been found to be effective . as mentioned above , although any potassium salt may be used , an organic salt of potassium , such as potassium carbonate or potassium acetate , is preferred , with the potassium bonding the eleostearic acid present in this oil . although any amount above 0 . 1 % of potassium incorporated into the composition is useful , the preferred amount ranges between about 1 to 10 weight percent . the products obtained have the potassium incorporated in general at the level of the double bonds of the different unsaturated fatty acids , this causes their toxicity to be exceptionally low . the injection of 1 ml of a product having 5 % potassium to a mouse does not kill it . the incorporated potassium composition may be administered orally , by injections , sublingually or rectally in the appropriate formulation . the incorporated potassium is believed to be absorbed by the abnormal cells , thus compensating for their low potassium content . this treatment produces objective and subjective improvement in the conditions , of patients having a variety of diseases based upon such abnormal cells . the neoplastic diseases are examples of diseased in which low cellular potassium abnormal cells are found . such low cellular potassium abnormal cells are believed to cause an catabolic imbalance in the body . this catabolic imbalance can be analyzed and diagnosed by blood and urine analyses . a low eosinophilia ( below 100 / cmm ), a high red cell sedimentation rate ( above 15 ml / 1 hour ), a high serum potassium ( above 4 . 5 meq ), a urinary acid ph ( below 7 ), high specific gravity ( above 1 . 016 ), low surface tension ( below 89 dynes / cm ), and low calcium or chloride excretion are indications of an catabolic imbalance . ( the opposite analyses would indicate a anabolic imbalance .) these analyses and clinical manifestations have to be changed by the administration of the incorporated potassium compound . in a 5 % potassium incorporated preparation , amounts from about 1 / 10 to 2 ml daily are predilectly used for the treatment of this catabolic imbalance . for other conditions with anabolic imbalances , doses from about 2 to 10 ml daily are predilectly used . in general the higher the dose used , the better are the clinical results . interesting results are those concerning pain , the changes induced in the lesions manifesting first an action upon pain . manifest changes in the tumors and in the subjective manifestations of the neoplastic diseases are obtained even in a very short time . thus , the incorporated potassium appears as a predilect treatment of the symptoms of neoplastic conditions , and possibly to the treatment of such condition themselves . good results were also obtained in the use of the incorporated potassium compounds for the different manifestations of aids ( acquired immune deficiency syndrome ) as well as for the arc ( aids related complex ). interesting also are the results in almost all the different conditions , such as neurological conditions , epilepsy and others , the problem of cellular potassium deficiency being a general pathological occurrence . interesting is the action of the lipidic potassium products on the viral infections . the incorporated potassium composition may be administered together with different other agents . while it is apparent that the invention herein disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated , it will be appreciated that numerous modifications and embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art , and it is intended that the appended claims cover all such modifications and embodiments as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention .
a method for making a composition containing a fatty acid or fatty ester compound and potassium . the compositions produced by the method . administration of these compositions to a patient to increase the potassium content of cells or tissue having a potassium deficiency or to treat at least some of the symptoms of diseases or adverse effects caused by this potassium deficiency .