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ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Healthy Body Weight Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #165474
Title: RENAL AND GASTROINTESTINAL POTASSIUM EXCRETION IN HUMANS: NEW INSIGHT BASED ON NEW DATA AND REVIEW AND ANALYSIS OF PUBLISHED STUDIES

Author
item Klevay, Leslie
item ALADJEM, MORDECHAY - CARDIOVASCULAR RES INST
item BOGDEN, JOHN - NEW JERSEY MED SCHOOL
item SANDSTEAD, HAROLD - UNIV TEXAS MED SCHOOL
item KEMP, FRANCIS - NEW JERSEY MED SCHOOL
item LI, WENJIE - NEW JERSEY MED SCHOOL
item SKURNICK, JOAN - NEW JERSEY MED SCHOOL
item AVIV, ABRAHAM - CARDIOVASCULAR RES INST

Submitted to: Journal of the American College of Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2006
Publication Date: 4/1/2007
Citation: Klevay, L.M., Aladjem, M., Bogden, J.D., Sandstead, H.H., Kemp, F.W., Li, W., Skurnick, J., Aviv, A. 2007. Renal and gastrointestinal potassium excretion in humans: new insight based on new data and review and analysis of published studies. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 26(2):103-110.

Interpretive Summary: Potassium metabolism is important in the control of blood pressure; abnormal utilization of potassium may induce high blood pressure. Although most potassium is excreted in urine, loss via feces increases at higher dietary intakes. In some people this latter loss contributes to overall potassium loss even at lower intakes. These findings, which are based on the careful study of tightly supervised men and on reinterpretation of published data, provide a new insight about potassium regulation that may guide future research on high blood pressure.

Technical Abstract: Objective: We determined the relationship between fecal and urinary excretion of potassium under both fixed and variable potassium intakes using our archival data and published data of others. Design: Loss of potassium in feces and urine was measured in men in a metabolic ward and compared with data published by others. Twenty-five subjects were evaluated. Results: On a fixed, low oral potassium intake (61.2±1.5 mmol/day; mean±SEM), there was an inverse relationship between fecal and urinary potassium excretion (r = -0.628, p = 0.0519). A higher potassium intake (61-135 mmol/day) increases both fecal and urinary potassium excretion, and a positive correlation was observed between fecal and urinary potassium excretion (r = 0.701, p = 0.004). Considerable variations were observed among subjects in the relationship between fecal and urinary potassium excretion. Conclusion: At higher potassium intakes, there is an increase in potassium loss via the gastrointestinal tract. In a subset of subjects, gastrointestinal potassium excretion also contributes considerable to overall potassium loss at a relatively low potassium intake.