Comparison of normal values of sodium and potassium in plasma of adult Nigerians with those of adult Europeans.

Although it has been suggested that there may be adrenocortical hypofunction in Africans as compared to Europeans, very few studies have been carried out to measure whether there is an associated difference in plasma and cellular cation composition. To test this, blood was collected from Nigerians and from European expatriates living in Port Harcourt, and serum sodium and potassium were measured. No differences in serum cation composition were found between the two races.