CHANGES IN THE WATER OF TISSUES INDUCED BY DIETS CONTAINING VARIOUS MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS

Abstract

The electrolyte balance of the diet influences the hydration of the tissues. When NaCl constitutes the only mineral supplement to the salt-poor basal diet, the tissues, except skeletal muscles, are more hydrated than normal. K exerts a slightly modifying effect. When the mineral supplement consists mainly of Ca, the liver, muscle, heart, and possibly the spleen, are less hydrated than normal. The vols. of extracellular water as detd. by chloride and by Na are in close agreement when the diet is adequate in all respects; but in the absence of Ca and P, muscle tissue contains more Na than can be accounted for by that in the extracellular water as calculated from the chloride. The present study emphasizes the importance of Na, K and Ca of the diet in controlling the water of the tissues.