Julian A.J.H. CritchleyKittima MakaranandaMehdi Balali-MoodKampon SriwatanakulMichael R. LeeUniversity of EdinburghMahidol UniversityImam Reza Hospital2018-06-142018-06-141988-01-01Journal of Hypertension, Supplement. Vol.6, No.4 (1988), S623-S625095211782-s2.0-0024239949https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/15533Dopamine is a natriuretic hormone and is synthesized in the kidney in response to a sodium load. This relationship results in a positive correlation between urinary sodium and dopamine outputs. Uncoupling of the renal sodium-dopamine relationship is reflected in a loss of this correlation and will result in the sluggish excretion of a sodium load. We measured 24-h urinary sodium and dopamine outputs in Thais and Iranians, who traditionally have very different dietary salt environments (salt-rich and salt-scarce, respectively). There was a highly significant positive correlation between sodium and dopamine in the Thais (r = 0.53, P < 0.001) but no suggestion of such a correlation in the Iranians (r = 0.03). We hypothesize that in some races the uncoupling of the renal sodium-dopamine relationship, possibly as a mechanism to help conserve dietary sodium, predisposes the race to the development of hypertension when the individuals encounter a salt-rich diet. © Gower Academic Journals Ltd.Mahidol UniversityBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular BiologyMedicineArticleSCOPUS