A new method to determine adequate requirements of electrolytes in intravenous nutrition.

(1) The amount of urinary electrolyte excretion is compared with nitrogen balance to determine an adequate requirement of electrolytes. The principle of this method is based on the relationship between the change of nitrogen balance and of ICF volume. (2) The adequate concentration of inorganic phosphorus and of potassium are estimated as about 1 mM/1 and 30 mEq/1 respectively, where the solution contains 27.4 g of nitrogen and 181.8 g of glucose per 1 liter. As far as sodium, chloride, magnesium and calcium, no reliable estimates are obtained. (3) The principle and the method are proved to be valid under some limitations.