Effect of urinary acidification using ammonium chloride on renal magnesiumexcretion in cats

In the present study the effect of an acidifying versus an alkalizing diet on renal magnesium excretion was investigated in six adult cats. Ammonium c hloride [0.5 g/kg body weighs BW)I or sodium bicarbonate (0.1 g/kg BW) were added to a basal meat and rice diet as an acidifier or alkalizer, respecti vely. The mean urine pH amounted to 6.12 and 7.42, respectively. Renal excr etion of magnesium increased in the acidifying diet (26.2 mg/kg BW per day) and decreased in the alkalizing diet (8.3 mg/kg BW per day). The long-term feeding of ammonium chloride as an acidifier in low magnesium diets is not recommended.