Authors : A. Alhaidary, H.E. Mohamed and A.C. Beynen
Abstract: It has been observed earlier that an increase in the dietary chloride concentration causes higher rates of calcium excretion with urine in rats. The hypothesis tested in this study was that the chloride-induced rise in urinary calcium excretion is associated by an increase in intestinal calcium absorption and/or a lowering of calcium deposition in tibia. Female rats aged 4 weeks were fed a purified control diet or a diet containing either 1.61% ammonium chloride or 1.67% calcium chloride. The three diets had identical calcium concentrations and were fed for a period of 6 weeks. There was no effect of dietary treatment on growth and feed intake. Chloride loading produced a significant increase in urinary calcium excretion, the source of chloride not having a differential effect. Apparent calcium absorption and tibia calcium concentrations were not affected by high chloride intake. It remains unknown how calcium homeostasis is attained in rats fed chloride-rich diets.
A. Alhaidary, H.E. Mohamed and A.C. Beynen, 2010. Calcium Metabolism in Rats Fed Diets Containing Supplemental Chloride. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 5: 219-222.