Imbalance of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus in bone and other tissues of rats induced by low protein and calcium deficiency.

Female Wistar rats were separated into 9 groups, and 9 different synthetic diets (each diet contains different level of protein and calcium) were given to each group. After 5 weeks of these dietary regimens, all rats were sacrificed and calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus levels in plasma and various tissues were determined. In calcium-deficient groups, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus level in bone decreased, plasma calcium level decreased and there was a tendency that magnesium levels in brain and liver and phosphorus level in brain increased. When comparison was made among the calcium-deficient groups, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus levels in bone were higher in low protein/calcium-deficient group than higher protein/calcium-deficient groups. It is probable that protein deficiency inhibits calcium depletion and consequently the influence of calcium deficiency is less significant in the condition of deficiency in both protein and calcium.