Abstract

Due to the difficulty in obtaining a 24 h urine collection in children, a random sample of urine is often used to calculate the urine calcium to creatinine ratio. Also, urinary calcium excretion might be influenced by genetic, geographic area, etc. we decided to evaluate the urinary calcium, creatinine, sodium and potassium excretion in healthy children with 1-7 years and determine age-related reference values for urine calcium to creatinine and sodium to potassium ratio in Andimeshk City in Khozestan Province of Iran.  From 1155 healthy children (528 boys and 627 girls) with ages between 1-7 years, that referred to check-up to Imam Ali Hospital in Andimeshk, between January and December 2008, urine sample was collected and calcium, creatinine, sodium and potassium were measured.  From 1155 healthy children, 528 (45.7%) were boys and 627 (54.3%) were girls. Mean ± SD ratio of urine calcium to creatinine in all children was 0.165±0.115. This ratio was 0.168±0.114 and 0.163±0.093 for boys and girls, respectively, but not significant (p=0.37). Also, the mean ± SD ratio of urine sodium to potassium in all children was 1.981±1.322. This ratio was 1.982±0.912 and 1.980±1.108 for boys and girls, respectively, it was higher in boys than girls, but not significant (p=0.28). Because of warm climate in Khuzestan Province in Iran and relatively, high quantities of solutes in children’s urine of this region, suggested that more investigation is done and prevalence of kidney’s stone will particularize.

Key words: Hypercalciuria, calcium, creatinine, sodium, potassium.