THE EFFECTS OF DIET, AGE, AND SEX ON THE MINERAL-CONTENT OF PRIMATE BONES

The effect of diet, age. and sex on the mineral content of primate bon es was determined for free-ranging rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) fro m the Caribbean Primate Research Center. Monkeys in this study were of known age and sex and had been provided with either a low protein (15 %) or a high protein (25%) diet for most of their lives. Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used to assess bone mineral content. R esults showed that diet had no significant effect on the bulk mineral composition of Ca, Mg. Br, and Cl in the bones. Of the minerals analyz ed, only Na and Mn showed significant diet-related effects. The bone C a content was found to be lower in females than in males when controll ed for age. Finally, Ca content was found to be higher in young adults , lower at middle age, and higher in old age in both male and female m onkeys. In conclusion, this study has shown that increasing protein co ntent in the diet does not change the bulk mineral content of primate bones. The nondietary effect that Ca content of monkey bones is lower during middle age has not been previously reported.