Injury to Guinea Pigs That Follows a High Intake of Phosphates The Modifying Effect of Magnesium and Potassium

Abstract

Our earlier report that the consumption of an excess of phosphates is injurious to guinea pigs, was confirmed. The symptoms are slow gains in weight, the development of stiff joints, of calcium phosphate deposits, and a high mortality rate. The symptoms were most severe on the rations that contained calcium 0.9%, phosphorus 1.7%, magnesium 0.04%, and potassium 0.41%. When the rations were changed to contain approximately 0.35% of magnesium and 1.5% of potassium the damage to the animals was reduced remarkably. The animals made moderate gains in weight, few of them became stiff, deposits of calcium phosphate were rare, and the mortality rate was low.