Potassium - urine

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Male urinary system

Urine potassium

The usual range for a person on a regular diet is 25 to 120 mEq/L/day. However, lower or higher urinary levels may occur depending on dietary potassium intake and the relative amount of potassium in the body. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories.

Note: mEq/L = milliequivalents per liter

Higher-than-normal urine potassium levels may indicate:

• Acute tubular necrosis
• Cushing's syndrome (rare)
• Diabetic acidosis and other forms of metabolic acidosis
• Hyperaldosteronism (very rare)
• Eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia) and vomiting
• Low magnesium levels

Additional conditions under which the test may be performed include medullary cystic disease.

Review Date: 02/03/2006
Reviewed By: Charles Silberberg, DO, Private Practice specializing in Nephrology, Affiliated with New York Medical College, Division of Nephrology, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.