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Objective:

Electrolytes have a crucial role in maintaining health and their serum levels are homeostatically maintained within a narrow range by multiple pathways usually involving the kidneys. Sodium is the major extracellular cation and changes in sodium levels affect blood pressure plasma and interstitial volumes. Potassium is the main intracellular cation and plays a key role in maintaining resting membrane potential. Changes in plasma potassium levels can disrupt cardiac conduction and cause sudden death. Proteins, phospholipids, cholesterol, and neutral fats account for 90% of the mass of solutes in plasma and it is unclear whether levels of these non-electrolytes have an impact on free serum electrolyte concentrations. We used metabolomic profiling to discover molecular markers and pathways associated with serum electrolytes levels that could be of therapeutic use.