T. Takeda et al., IMBALANCE OF CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM, AND PHOSPHORUS IN BONE AND OTHER TISSUES OF RATS INDUCED BY LOW-PROTEIN AND CALCIUM DEFICIENCY, Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology, 39(4), 1993, pp. 355-363
Female Wistar rats were separated into 9 groups, and 9 different synth
etic diets (each diet contains different level of protein and calcium)
were given to each group. After 5 weeks of these dietary regimens, al
l rats were sacrificed and calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus levels i
n plasma and various tissues were determined. In calcium-deficient gro
ups, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus level in bone decreased, plasm
a calcium level decreased and there was a tendency that magnesium leve
ls in brain and liver and phosphorus level in brain increased. When co
mparison was made among the calcium-deficient groups, calcium, magnesi
um, and phosphorus levels in bone were higher in low protein/calcium-d
eficient group than higher protein/calcium-deficient groups. It is pro
bable that protein deficiency inhibits calcium depletion and consequen
tly the influence of calcium deficiency is less significant in the con
dition of deficiency in both protein and calcium.