This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Oliver, W. J. Articles by Cohen, E. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Oliver, W. J. Articles by Cohen, E. L.

Circulation, Vol 63, 110-116, Copyright © 1981 by American Heart Association

ARTICLES

Hormonal adaptation to the stresses imposed upon sodium balance by pregnancy and lactation in the Yanomama Indians, a culture without salt

WJ Oliver, JV Neel, RJ Grekin and EL Cohen

The Yanomama Indians of northern Brazil and southern Venezuela have been identified as a "no-salt" culture. In this study, data were obtained to determine in this population the adjustments of sodium- related hormones to the stresses imposed upon sodium balance by pregnancy and prolonged lactation. Controls against the possibility that findings in the Yanomama were ethnic rather than dietary were provided by similar observations in the Guaymi Indians of Panama, who have free access to salt. Urinary concentrations of sodium were approximately 1 mEq/l in male and female Yanomama, with 24-hour excretion rates in the males averaging 1 mEq, similar to our prior observation. The pregnant Yanomama had exceeding high urinary concentrations of aldosterone. These were associated with higher plasma renin activities and serum aldosterone concentrations than in all other subjects. Although pregnant Guaymi had elevations of serum and urinary aldosterone, these were significantly lower (p < 0.001) than those of the Yanomama. Prolonged lactation in the Yanomama was associated with elevation of plasma renin activity and serum and urinary aldosterone concentration compared with the Guaymi, but were not higher than those in nonlactating Yanomama females. The findings suggest that pregnancy in a salt-poor environment is associated with an exaggerated augmentation of hormonal responses that enhance positive sodium balance.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. C. Speth, M. S. Smith, and K. L. Grove Brain angiotensinergic mediation of enhanced water consumption in lactating rats Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, March 1, 2002; 282(3): R695 - R701. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Schnermann Juxtaglomerular cell complex in the regulation of renal salt excretion Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, February 1, 1998; 274(2): R263 - R279. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]