IMBALANCE OF CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM, AND PHOSPHORUS IN BONE AND OTHER TISSUES OF RATS INDUCED BY LOW-PROTEIN AND CALCIUM DEFICIENCY

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.