This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map 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 Porter, L. E. Articles by Hollenberg, N. K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Porter, L. E. Articles by Hollenberg, N. K.

(Hypertension. 1998;32:144-148.)
© 1998 American Heart Association, Inc.

Scientific Contributions

Obesity, Salt Intake, and Renal Perfusion in Healthy Humans

Lisa E. Porter; ; Norman K. Hollenberg

From the Departments of Medicine and Radiology, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Mass.

Abstract—Renal perfusion rises as obesity develops during short-term overfeeding in animal studies. In humans, the assessment is complicated by the need to normalize renal perfusion for body size. We made use of the fact that radioactive xenon washout measures renal perfusion per unit of tissue mass to address this issue by comparing 45 moderately obese and 147 lean healthy potential kidney donors. All were disease free. The rationale for involving kidney donors reflects the fact that the xenon method for measuring renal perfusion demands injection of the xenon directly into the renal artery, which can be accomplished during the arteriogram that is a necessary part of potential kidney donor evaluation. In 21 obese subjects (body mass index [BMI], 29.1±0.9) in balance on a 10-mmol sodium intake, renal perfusion (352±16 mL · 100 g^-1 · min^-1) was significantly higher than predicted from findings in the 95 lean control subjects (313±3 mL · 100 g^-1 · min^-1; P=0.035) after adjustment for age. With a high sodium intake (200 mmol), however, renal perfusion was not significantly different in 24 obese subjects (BMI, 28.8±0.7; 323±13 mL · 100 g^-1 · min^-1) in comparison to 52 lean controls (341±10 mL · 100 g^-1 · min^-1) after adjustment for age. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were similar in obese and age- and gender-matched lean control subjects. Renal vasodilation was seen in association with sustained obesity in humans. While the mechanisms of obesity-related vasodilation are unclear, the dependence on sodium intake in this study is consistent with a role for the renin-angiotensin system. The findings are not in accordance with a reduction in renal perfusion reported in healthy obese humans in whom measured renal perfusion was indexed for body size.

Key Words: sodium • renin • renal blood flow

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Chagnac, M. Herman, B. Zingerman, A. Erman, B. Rozen-Zvi, J. Hirsh, and U. Gafter Obesity-induced glomerular hyperfiltration: its involvement in the pathogenesis of tubular sodium reabsorption Nephrol. Dial. Transplant., December 1, 2008; 23(12): 3946 - 3952. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Shankar, C. Leng, K. S. Chia, D. Koh, E. S. Tai, S. M. Saw, S. C. Lim, and T. Y. Wong Association between body mass index and chronic kidney disease in men and women: population-based study of Malay adults in Singapore Nephrol. Dial. Transplant., June 1, 2008; 23(6): 1910 - 1918. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. B. Ahmed, N. D.L. Fisher, R. Stevanovic, and N. K. Hollenberg Body Mass Index and Angiotensin-Dependent Control of the Renal Circulation in Healthy Humans Hypertension, December 1, 2005; 46(6): 1316 - 1320. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. M. Buijs, P. W. de Leeuw, A. J. H. M. Houben, A. A. Kroon, M. Frolich, H. Pijl, and A. E. Meinders Renal Contribution to Increased Clearance of Exogenous Growth Hormone in Obese Hypertensive Patients J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2005; 90(2): 795 - 799. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. P. Davy and J. E. Hall Obesity and hypertension: two epidemics or one? Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, May 1, 2004; 286(5): R803 - R813. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Chagnac, T. Weinstein, M. Herman, J. Hirsh, U. Gafter, and Y. Ori The Effects of Weight Loss on Renal Function in Patients with Severe Obesity J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., June 1, 2003; 14(6): 1480 - 1486. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. O. Lerman and M. Rodriguez-Porcel Functional Assessment of the Circulation of the Single Kidney Hypertension, September 1, 2001; 38(3): 625 - 629. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. A. PRICE, L. E. PORTER, M. GORDON, N. D. L. FISHER, J. M. F. DE'OLIVEIRA, L. M. B. LAFFEL, D. R. PASSAN, G. H. WILLIAMS, and N. K. HOLLENBERG The Paradox of the Low-Renin State in Diabetic Nephropathy J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., November 1, 1999; 10(11): 2382 - 2391. [Abstract] [Full Text]