Effects of dietary sodium intake on body and muscle potassium content in unacclimatized men during successive days of work in the heat

Abstract

This investigation examined the influence of two levels of dietary sodium (Na+) intake on intramuscular and extracellular potassium (K+) content. Nine unacclimatized college males exercised. (90 minutes of treadmill walking, 5.6km/hr, 6X grade) in an environmental chamber maintained at 40.1( + .05)°C and 23.5( + . 4) %RH, during two 8-day dietary-acclimation regimens. The first regimen employed a high Na+ diet (399mEq/day), the second a low Na+ diet (98mEq/day); both diets contained 80mEq K+/day. Total body K+ stores increased during the high Na+ diet (+138mEq, 4.1%) and the-low Na+ diet (+114mEq, 3.4%). By day 8 (D8) of both treatments, subjects exhibited a significantly lower (p<.O5) mean heart rate and rectal temperature. Oxygen consumption and sweat rate were unaltered but sweat responsiveness (ml/hr/°c) progressively increased during the acclimation trials. Plasma volume increased +16.3% (D4) and +10.7% (D8) under the high Na+ diet and only +3.0% (D4) and +7.0% (D8) under the low Na+ diet. The low sodium diet was associated with a significantly higher (p<.05) mean heart rate (D3-D5), higher rectal temperature (D3-D6), lower sweat responsiveness (D2) and a delayed plasma volume expansion (D4)--resulting in less effective heat removal. The total content of K+, Na+, and C1- in plasma changed isoosmotically with plasma volume. The diets were associated with equivalent urine K+ excretion, and. during exercise in the heat both diets resulted in significantly decreased urine K+ losses. Muscle K+ and sweat K+ concentrations were not altered by dietary intervention or acclimation trials. Total muscle water-was significantly increased, in accord with Na+ and Cl- increases, on D8 of the low Na+ diet only. It was concluded that dietary intake of Na+, in combination with 8 days. of exercise in the heat and heavy sweating, does not significantly diminish the intramuscular K+ or total body K+ content.