ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the association between 24 h urinary sodium to potassium ratio and metabolic syndrome (MS) in Chinese adults.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among Chinese adults aged 18-69 years in Shandong province in 2011. Data on 24 h urinary excretion of sodium and potassium and components of MS were examined. Participants were divided into four groups according to the quartile of 24 h urinary sodium to potassium ratio.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 1 906 Chinese adults eligible for final data analysis, 471 (24.7%) were with MS. After completion of multivariate logistic regression analysis, when compared to the participants with 24 h urinary sodium to potassium ratio < 4.3, the OR (95% CI) of participants with 24 h urinary sodium to potassium ratio during 4.3-5.6, 5.7-8.1, and ≥ 8.1 were 1.27 (0.93-1.71), 1.06 (0.78-1.46), and 1.45 (1.06-1.97), respectively (P values for linear trend < 0.05). As for the components of MS, the odds of central obesity and elevated blood pressure but not the odds of elevated triglycerides, low high density lipoprotein cholesterol and elevated fasting glucose, had significantly increases with successive 24 h urinary sodium to potassium ratio quartiles (P values for linear trends < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The 24 h urinary sodium to potassium ratio appeared significantly associated with the odds of MS.</p>