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Varying Influences of Aldosterone on the Plasma Potassium Concentration in Blacks and Whites.
- Source :
-
American journal of hypertension [Am J Hypertens] 2017 May 01; Vol. 30 (5), pp. 490-494. - Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Background: Aldosterone acts to restrain the extracellular potassium (K+) concentration. Blacks have on average lower plasma aldosterone concentrations (PACs) than Whites. Whether this ethnic difference is associated with similar changes in the concentration of K+ is unclear.<br />Methods: Subjects were Blacks and Whites from an observational study of blood pressure regulation. PAC was known to be significantly lower in Blacks than Whites. We sought to test the hypothesis that the concentration of K+ remains constant despite variability in PAC. Initial enrollment took place in childhood in 1986. Some of the original enrollees were studied again in adulthood: 160 healthy Blacks and 271 healthy Whites (ages 5 to 39 years; all were studied as children and as adults).<br />Results: Plasma renin activity [a biomarker of angiotensin II and, more proximally, extracellular fluid volume (ECFV)] and PAC were lower in Blacks (P < 0.0354 and P < 0.001, respectively, for all ages). At the same time no ethnic difference in levels of K+ was observed regardless of age. Plasma K+ concentration and PAC associated differently based on ethnicity: PAC increased in Blacks by 1.5-2.0 and in Whites by 2.3-3.0 ng/dl per mmol/l increase in K+ (P < 0.001).<br />Conclusions: Lower aldosterone levels in Blacks did not translate into higher K+ concentrations. We speculate that reaching the right concentration of K+ was an endpoint of aldosterone production in the presence of varying levels of ECFV and angiotensin II.<br /> (© American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd 2017. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com)
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Blood Pressure
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Indiana
Male
Potassium urine
Prospective Studies
Renin blood
Sodium urine
Young Adult
Black or African American
Aldosterone blood
Health Status Disparities
Potassium blood
Renin-Angiotensin System
Water-Electrolyte Balance
White People
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1941-7225
- Volume :
- 30
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- American journal of hypertension
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 28338830
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1093/ajh/hpx006