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Effect of potassium depletion on urinary stone risk factors in Wistar rats

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Abstract

Various studies have suggested that potassium depletion leads to acidosis and hypocitraturia. In Northeastern Thailand, for example, mild hypokalemia and mild hyperoxaluria are observed in most stone formers. However, there are limited reports about the direct link between potassium depletion and the formation of urinary stones, most of which are calcium oxalate stones. Therefore, we studied the direct effect of potassium depletion on the risk factors for calcium oxalate stone formation. Seventy-two rats were fed a control diet or a potassium-deficient diet for 1, 2, or 3 weeks (n = 12 per group). Twenty-four-hour urine collection was done for the measurement of potassium, calcium, oxalate, glycolate, citrate, phosphorus, and magnesium. Lactate dehydrogenase activity was also measured in order to assess renal tubular damage, and kidneys were harvested for histological examination. Furthermore, urinary supersaturation of calcium oxalate was calculated. With potassium depletion, the urinary concentrations of potassium, citrate, magnesium, and phosphorus decreased rapidly. There was no detectable renal damage, renal calcium deposition, and no significant increase of urinary oxalate or calcium. However, the urinary supersaturation index of calcium oxalate increased significantly in rats with potassium depletion. These findings indicate that potassium deficiency may increase the risk of stone formation through enhanced supersaturation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Urology, Department of Organ-Oriented Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0215, Japan

    Chatchai Yachantha, Rayhan Zubair Hossain, Kimio Sugaya & Seiichi Saito

  2. Department of Urology, Niimura Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan

    Kenichi Yamakawa

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Piyaratana Tosukhowong

  4. Department of Urology, Tokyo-West Tokushukai Hospital, Tokyo, Japan

    Yoshihide Ogawa

Authors
  1. Chatchai Yachantha
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  2. Rayhan Zubair Hossain
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  3. Kenichi Yamakawa
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  4. Kimio Sugaya
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  5. Piyaratana Tosukhowong
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  6. Yoshihide Ogawa
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  7. Seiichi Saito
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Correspondence to Rayhan Zubair Hossain.

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Yachantha, C., Hossain, R.Z., Yamakawa, K. et al. Effect of potassium depletion on urinary stone risk factors in Wistar rats. Urol Res 37, 311–316 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00240-009-0220-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00240-009-0220-6

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