Sodium and the Cachexia and Hypophagia of Tumor Growth

Summary

The possibility that salt depletion generated by tumor growth is responsible for the depression of food intake induced by tumor growth was reexamined by three different methods of salt supplement administration during growth of Walker carcinoma 256. The effect of the salt supplement on changes in energy exchange and water exchange of the host was also measured. Salt supplement increased water intake in normal and tumor-bearing rats. It increased water retention and body-weight gain in tumorbearing rats, and these animals retained most of the sodium administered. There was no systematic effect on food intake, on energy expenditure, or on the motor activity compartment of energy expenditure in normal or tumorbearing rats.