Contrasting effects of various potassium salts on renal citrate excretion

Khashayar Sakhaee, Robert Alpern, Harry R. Jacobson, Charles Y C Pak

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

64 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mechanisms for the citraturic response to potassium citrate treatment were sought by assessing renal citrate clearance and acid-base status after oral administration of potassium citrate, potassium bicarbonate, and potassium chloride. After 2 weeks of treatment of eight patients with stones at a dose of 80 meq/day, urinary citrate rose significantly from 2.5 ± 1.6 mmol/day (no drug) to 5.1 ± 1.7 mmol/day with potassium citrate and to 4.5 ± 1.5 mmol/day with potassium bicarbonate (P < 0.05), but did not change significantly with potassium chloride. Citrate clearance increased from 8.0 to 27.4 mL/min with potassium citrate and 25.8 mL/min with potassium bicarbonate (P < 0.05), but did not increase with potassium chloride. Both potassium citrate and potassium bicarbonate significantly raised urinary bicarbonate and decreased urinary ammonium, titratable acid, and net acid excretion. Potassium chloride was without effect. Effects of potassium citrate on urinary citrate, citrate clearance, and acid-base status tended to be more prominent than those of potassium bicarbonate, but these changes were not significant. Thus, the citraturic action of potassium citrate is largely accountable for by provision of an alkali load. Potassium itself had no effect in the absence of potassium deficiency.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)396-400
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume72
Issue number2
StatePublished - Feb 1991

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Biochemistry
  • Endocrinology
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Biochemistry, medical

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