Effect of elevating dietary calcium level upon the fecal excretion of some metals in male rats

ABSTRACT

The effect of three levels of dietary calcium upon the excretion of seven minerals was studied in adult male albino rats [114 +/- 4 g] for 6 weeks using diets containing 5% corn oil. Increasing dietary calcium from 0.25% to 0.5% increased excretion of fat, copper, iron, magnesium, zinc, sodium, potassium and lead. Also, increasing dietary calcium from 0.5% to 2.5% increased the ability of elevated dietary calcium to cause increased excretion of these metals. Although, supplementation of the diet with some minerals may be required, increasing dietary calcium increased fecal excretion of fat and deleterious metals