A Comparative Study on the Daily Excretion of Urinary Sodium, Potassium and Volume Between Urban and Rural Korean

Ahn, Kwang Soo

Abstract

Author had already reported that urinary excretions of several electrolytes of rural Korean measured in late 1970`s were different with that of the 1960`s. This study was carried out to evaluate the difference of daily urine volume, urinary excretions of sodium and potassium between urban and rural residents in Korea. 20 urban and 28 rural residents were selected arbitrarily and the surface areas of both group didn`t show any difference. 24 hour urines were collected and sodium and potassium concentrations were analyzed by means of flame photometry. Followings were the results. 1. Daily urine volume urban residents: 1578.75 461.92 ml/day, rural residents: 1582.14 417.91 ml/day 2. Daily urinary sodium excretion urban residents: 223.95 109.61 mEq/day, rural residents: 219.68 65.60 mEq/day 3. Daily urinary potassium excretion urban residents: 75.44 28.00 mEq/day, rural residents: 49.52 14.95 mEq/day Above results reveal that daily urine volume and urinary excretion of sodium of urban residents are within the range of rural residents, while daily urinary potassium excretion of urban are much higher than that of rural one. In addition, the ratio of K/Na of urban residents is also much higher than that of rural residents and than that of 1960`s, although the ratio was still lower than those of Westerns.