Effects of dietary calcium level, acid stress, and age on renal, serum, and bone responses of rats
Newell, G.K.; Beauchene, R.E.
Journal of Nutrition 105(8): 1039-1047
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3166 PMID: 237990 Document Number: 88159
For 9 months, from 4 and 16 months old, rats were given a diet with Ca 100 or 500 mg/100 g without or with NH4Cl 2 g/100 g. Rats given NH4Cl had a significant fall in urine pH and increases in total acid, Ca and P in urine, kidney weight and phosphate-dependent glutaminase activities. Renal responses were affected by the amount of Ca in the diet and the age of the rat. Acid stress tended to decrease serum Ca and P. Serum P was lower in older rats, but serum Ca was unaffected by age. Tibia ash weights of older rats were less and their fat content was greater than those of young rats. Neither acid stress nor the amount of Ca in the diet significantly affected bone analysis in either age group.