Urine Potassium
Urine potassium measures how much potassium your kidneys are excreting. It reflects your diet and how your body regulates this important mineral, which is vital for nerve and muscle function.
When blood potassium is too high or too low, urine potassium helps show whether the kidneys are the source of the imbalance or are responding appropriately. It can also give clues about certain hormone and kidney conditions.
Higher urine potassium may reflect a potassium-rich diet or the kidneys releasing potassium. When blood potassium is low, high urine potassium suggests the kidneys are contributing to the loss, which points your clinician toward specific causes.
Lower urine potassium often means the body is conserving it, which can be an appropriate response when blood levels are low. Its meaning depends entirely on the accompanying blood potassium and your situation.
There's no single normal value because it varies with diet; a common reference for a 24-hour collection is roughly 25 to 125 mmol/day. Your clinician interprets urine potassium together with your blood level and clinical context.
Sources
Educational context only, not medical advice or a diagnosis. Reference ranges vary by lab, age and sex; always discuss your results with a clinician.