EFFECT OF VARYING INTAKE OF PROTEIN AND SALTS ON THE COMPOSITION AND SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF URINE 1

Abstract

Urine from subjects with normal kidney function was analyzed for urea, creatinine, inorganic constituents, and total solids, and the contr. of each substance to the sp. gr. of the urine calculated. Changes in fat intake had no effect on the sp. gr. pattern but variations in salt and protein intake caused alterations in the composition of urine with distortion of the pattern. When large amts. of urea, NaCl, Na2SO4, and Na phosphate were given intraven., the injected substance occurred in high conc. in the urine and probably accounted for at least 50-75% of the sp. gr. The undetd. solids of urine, which accounted for the undetd. sp. gr., increased with the protein intake. Chloride depletion, per se, produced either experimentally or by pylorie obstruction did not result in hypos-thenuria even though the contribution of NaCl to the sp. gr. was reduced to less than 0.2% (normal 25-30%).