Studies on Urinary Excretions of Sodium, Potassium and Urea Nitrogen and Urine Volume for 24 Hours in Rural Korean

Ahn, Kwang Soo; Kim, Tai Chin

Abstract

Daily excretions of sodium, potassium and urea nitrogen and urine volume of normal Korean were reported by several authors. However, it is generally suspected that dietary composition of Koreans improved during last decade. Author have hypothetized that changes of diet composition could modify urine compositions and volume. In order to determine the urine composition and volume in the late 1970`s, sodium and potassium concentrations were measured by flame photometry and urea nitrogen by urease indophenol method in the urine from 50 rural residents. The residents were composed of 10 public officials, 18 male farmers and 22 female farmers. Followings were the results: 1. Daily urine volume Total average : 1594.20+/-443.89 ml/day, Public official : 1714.00+/-548.00 ml/day Male farmer :1508.89+/-310. 54ml/day, Female farmer: 1612.27+/-496.04 ml/day 2. Daily urinary sodium excretion Total average : 5.19+/-1.21 g/day. Public official : 5.62+/-1.93 g/day Male farmer : 4.73+/-1.10 g/day, Female farmer: 5.37+/-0.98 g/day 3. Daily urinary potassium excretion Total average : 1.79+/-0.59 g/day, Public official : 1.97+/-0.60 g/day Male farmer : 1.91+/-0.59 g/day, Female farmer : 1.62+/-0.58 g/day 4. Daily urinary urea nitrogen excretion Total average : 7.26+/-l.95 g/day, Public official : 8.06+/-1.65 g/day Male farmer: 7.53+/-2.40 g/day. Female farmer : 6.67+/-1.65 g/day A comparison of these data with corresponding figures obtained from Western reporters indicate that the concentration and excretion of sodium of rural Koreans are still higher significantly, while those of potassium and urea nitrogen are lower than those of Westerns significantly. On the other hand, a comparison with corresponding figures obtained from other Korean reporters in the 1960's indicate that sodium excretion of present data is lower while potassium and urea nitrogen are higher than those of the 1960's. It is speculated that these peculiarities of urinary composition shown in rural Koreans in the late 1970's are attributed to improved protein ingestion combined with decreased salt intake as compared to 1960's, however, the levels are still far from Westerns.