Mineral Water Administration may Increase Kidney Elimination of Urea, Creatinine and Folic Acid in a Concentration-Dependent Fashion

Abstract

Background In a previous experimental study we showed that the administration of a large water load in a short time increases the urinary flow and the transport capacity in the excretory tract of the rabbit ureter. In human subjects drinking a water load of 25 ml/kgBW in 30 minutes, diuresis, creatinine and urea clearance increase more than in those drinking the same load in 24 hours. Purpose The aim of the present study was to investigate possible correlations between percent reduction and baseline values of serum urea, creatinine, folic acid, and magnesium in humans. Methods and results: 20 volunteers were divided in two groups. Subjects in group 1 received a water load of 25 ml/kgBW in 24 hours followed by the same load in 30 minutes. Subjects in group 2 received the same water load but in inverse order. Before and after each water administration, the following variables were measured and compared: diuresis, serum urea, creatinine, folic acid and magnesium concentration, and urea and creatinine clearance. Results Serum urea and folic acid concentration decreased up to 40% after administration of the water load in 24 hours. Serum creatinine concentration decreased up to 20% after administration of the water load in 30 minutes. The concentration drop of these metabolites increased with increasing baseline metabolite concentrations.