Table 1.

Potassium balance measurements

	Virgin (n = 6)	Late Pregnant (n = 6)
Food intake, g/24 h	16.7 ± 0.8	25.5 ± 0.8*
K+ intake, mEq/24 h	3.42 ± 0.15	5.21 ± 0.16*
Urine volume, ml/24 h	16.5 ± 2.0	21.2 ± 1.5
UKV, mEq/24 h	3.13 ± 0.18	4.62 ± 0.14*
Fecal weight, g/24 h	3.3 ± 0.3	4.8 ± 0.2*
Fecal K+ excretion, mEq/24 h	0.23 ± 0.03	0.22 ± 0.04
K+ retention, mEq/24 h	0.06 ± 0.05	0.37 ± 0.16*
Plasma K+, mEq/l	3.4 ± 0.3	4.4 ± 0.4*

Data are presented as means ± SE. K⁺ balance = K⁺ intake – (U_KV + fecal K⁺ excretion), where U_KV is urinary potassium.

^*P < 0.05 vs. virgin, by unpaired t-test.