The effect of sodium on aldosterone metabolic clearance

The effect of sodium intake on the aldosterone metabolic clearance rate (MCR) was examined in 5 normal subjects. Measurements were made under conditions where dietary sodium ranged from 10 to 1500 meq/day. There were no consistent changes in MCR over these extremes of sodium intake, and the plasma level of aldosterone correlated only with the aldosterone urinary excretion rate. In an additional group of 6 normal subjects, a single dose of 100 meq sodium administered orally had no effect on the aldosterone MCR. The findings indicate that aldosterone metabolism is unaffected by sodium intake.