WATER AND ELECTROLYTE ECONOMY OF DESERT ABORIGINALS AND NEW GUINEA MELANESIANS
Abstract
The indigenous foods of Melanesians in the New Guinea mountains were sweet potato, taro and fruits, with rare ceremonial pig feasts. Urinary and sweat sodium is low, and potassium high in these people, whose resting arterial pressure is below 100/70 and plasma aldosterone and renin is 3 to 5 fold higher than the European level. As cash crops, money economy and European foods become available the aldosterone falls, sodium excretion rises, and blood pressure rises. Reduction in potassium intake lowers the urine pH from 8.5 to 7.0. Plasma renin remains high, particularly in the coastal people, but the reason for this is not clear. Salivary and sweat electrolytes do not change greatly from high potassium - low sodium even though aldosterone concentration is low and sodium is plentiful in urine. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 30, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0687603
Entities
People
- Walter V. Macfarlane
Organizations
- University of Adelaide