Effects of Gum Arabic (Acacia senegal) on Water and Electrolyte Balance in Healthy Mice

The GA solutions contained particularly high concentrations of Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+. Because of enhanced uptake, treatment with GA significantly increased both the intestinal and renal excretion of Mg2+ and Ca2+. The latter was accompanied by decreased urinary excretion of inorganic phosphate and decreased plasma concentrations of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D. Moreover, GA significantly increased fecal weight and Na+ excretion. Gum arabic increased 24-h creatinine clearance (from 283 ± 35 to 382 ± 40 μL/min [SEM]) and urinary antidiuretic hormone excretion, and decreased daily urine output (from 1.8 ± 0.2 to 1.2 ± 0.1 mL/24 h) as well as the urinary excretion of Na+ (from 226 ± 22 to 196 ± 19 μmol/24 h). In conclusion, treatment with GA resulted in moderate but significant increases of creatinine clearance and altered electrolyte excretion, i.e., effects favorable in renal insufficiency.