Urinary Calcium and Calcium Balance in Young Men as Affected by Level of Protein and Phosphorus Intake

Abstract

Eight young adult males were subjects in a 51-day metabolic study conducted to examine the effects of level of protein and of phosphorus intake on urinary calcium and calcium balance. Two levels of protein (50–150 g) were given at each of two levels of phosphorus intake (1,010 and 2,525 mg). Dietary calcium and magnesium were maintained at 500 and 350 mg, respectively. Raising the protein intake from 50 to 150 g caused a calciuresis at both phosphorus intakes, but the actual increase in urinary calcium was 71 mg/day greater at the low than at the high phosphorus intake and calcium balance was changed from 24 to -116 mg/day at the low phosphorus intake and from 8 to -25 mg/day at the high. When the phosphorus intake was raised, urinary calcium decreased from 156 to 93 mg/day at the low protein intake and from 334 to 200 mg/day at the high protein intake and the markedly negative calcium balance found at the high protein intake was greatly improved. Simultaneous increases in protein and phosphorus intakes caused a 28% increase in urinary calcium whereas the increase in protein intake alone caused a 115% increase.