Aldosterone is a hormone released by the adrenal glands. It is part
of the complex mechanism used by the body to regulate blood
pressure. Aldosterone increases the reabsorption of sodium and the
excretion of potassium in the distal tubules of the kidneys. The
reabsorption of sodium is accompanied by the reabsorption of water,
which raises blood pressure.
Review Date: 11/30/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of
General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington
School of Medicine; Herbert Y. Lin, MD, PHD, Nephrologist,
Massachusetts General Hospital; Associate Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA,
Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
