Studies on Sodium Chloride and Nitrogen Metabolism of the Korean

한국인(韓國人)의 식염(食鹽) 및 질소대사(窒素代謝)에 관(關)하여

In order to study the daily metabolism of sodium chloride and of nitrogen, 24 hour urine samples were collected from 298 normal Korean males whose ages varied Iron 26 to 80 years old. The volume and the concentration of chloride and the total nitrogen were determine, along with the resting pulse and the blood pressure. The daily urine volume was maintained at approximately $1,000\;ml/m^2$ in all age groups while the chloride concentration was at approximately 230 mEq/l. Hence the daily urinary output of sodium chloride was estimated to be approximately 21 gm. On the other hand, the daily urinary output of total nitrogen amounted to approximately 10 gm. Theses findings are similar to those obtained earlier by Yi et al. (1966) in Korean subjects younger than 25 fears old, indicating that average Koreans live on low protein and high salt diets throughout their life. Despite a known correlation between the incidence of hypertension and the high salt intake, none of the these subjects employed in the present investigation showed any sign of hypertension.