title: Effects of dietary calcium on the metabolism of trace elements in male and female rats.
abstract: The effect of dietary calcium on the metabolism of iron, zinc, copper, and manganese in male and female rats was investigated. For 3 or 6 weeks the rats were fed three diets containing: (1) 0.26, (2) 0.52, or (3) 2.08% Ca. The apparent absorption of iron was depressed by the high calcium diet, and manganese absorption was highest in the low calcium groups. Generally there was a decrease in the absorption of minerals from 3 to 6 weeks. With an increase in the dietary calcium the absorption of Ca and P decreased. The liver iron concentration in the females fed diet 3 decreased from about 600 to 200 microg/g dry weight. The high calcium intake also caused a slight increase in the heart calcium levels in both sexes. However, diet 3 prevented kidney calcification in the female rats at 6 weeks and this was attributed to a dramatic decrease in the urinary phosphorus, although the calcium had increased about 40 times. In males, on the other hand, the high calcium diet caused some kidney calcification.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Division, Bureau of Nutritional Sciences, Food Directorate, Health Protection Branch, Health and Welfare Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0L2.
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Trick
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Belonje