THE RELATION BETWEEN THE SERUM UREA CONCENTRATION AND THE PROTEIN CONSUMPTION OF NORMAL INDIVIDUALS 1

Abstract

Dietary protein is of such importance in blood urea concn. detn. that it must be considered in establishing normality standards for use in predicting (from urea concns.) the urea excreting function of the kidneys. The serum urea concn. of 10 medical students on the 5th and 6th days of diets in which the protein consumption was varied, showed that on a protein intake of 0.5 g./kg. the avg. of 120 detns. was 19 mg./l00 ml., and 95% lay between 13 and 25 mg./l00 ml. On a diet containing 1.5 g. of protein/kg., the avg. of 60 detns. was 39 mg. and 95% fell between 25 and 53 mg./lOO ml. When 2.5 g./kg. of protein was taken, the avg. of 108 detns. was 45 mg. and the same proportion was included in a range from 31-60 mg./lOO ml.