title: [Difference in urine concentration according to gender and ethnicity: possible involvement in the different susceptibility to various renal and cardiovascular diseases].
abstract: Men and African-Americans are known to be at greater risk of urolithiasis and cardiovascular and renal diseases than women and Caucasians. Previous studies suggest that the antidiuretic effects of vasopressin and/or a greater urine concentration are associated with the rate of progression of these diseases. The present review addresses possible sex and ethnic-related differences in urine volume and osmolality which could participate in this male and black higher predominance. We reanalyzed 24h-urine data collected previously by different investigators for other purposes. In studies concerning healthy subjects (six studies) or patients with chronic kidney disease or Diabetes mellitus (three studies), men excreted a larger osmolar load than women, with a 15 to 30% higher urinary osmolality (or another index of urine concentration based on the urine/plasma creatinine concentration ratio) and a similar 24h urine volume than in women. In two American studies, African-Americans showed a significantly higher urinary concentration than Caucasians and a lower 24h-urine volume. Sex and ethnic differences in thirst threshold, vasopressin level, or other regulatory mediators may contribute to the higher urinary concentration of men and of African Americans. These differences could play a role in the greater susceptibility of these subjects to these pathologies. New prospective studies should take into account the antidiuretic effects of vasopressin as a potential risk factor in the initiation and progression of cardiovascular and renal diseases.
authors.affiliation: Inserm unité 872, centre de recherche des Cordeliers, 15, rue de l'école-de-médecine, 75006 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perucca
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bouby
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valeix
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jungers
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bankir
mesh_terms: D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D044469:Racial Groups; D012737:Sex Factors; D014556:Urine