Restriction of potassium intake leads to depletion of body potassium, chiefly as a result of losses of potassium in the urine (1-3). The ability of the kidney to conserve potassium has been variously assessed. Tarail and Elkinton (4) considered the renal mechanism for potassium conservation to be relatively inefficient, whereas Fourman (5) has demonstrated a U/P ratio of less than 1.0 in the normal human. Depletion of body potassium may be associated with hypokalemic alkalosis (1), shifts of sodium into potassium depleted cells (6) and retention of sodium in the extracellular phase with expansion of the extra-, cellular fluid (1, 2).The following experiments were designed to study the effects on the composition of the serum and urine, in normal humans, of 1) restricted potassium intake alone, and 2) restriction of sodium and potassium concurrently. External balances of water and electrolytes were observed, and internal balances of sodium, potassium, and water were calculated. Clearances of endogenous creatinine were calculated. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES AND METHODSThree studies were carried out on two normal male subjects. Studies RW1 and RW' were similar in design. Each was divided into an Initial period when sodium and potassium intakes were maintained at normal levels, a Depletion (K) period when potassium intake was restricted, a Depletion (Na and K) period when both sodium and potassium intakes were restricted (in RW1 9 gnL of ammonium chloride were administered on the last day of this period), and a Reloading period when sodium and potassium were returned to the diet Study JD was divided into an Initial period, a Depletion (Na and K) period when both sodium and potassium intakes were restricted, and a Depletion (K) period when so-

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