Abstract

This experiment was designed to test whether protein consumption reduces the amount of filtered calcium reabsorbed by the kidney. Nine subjects were each fed meals containing 18 g protein and 54 g protein. The intake of energy, sodium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and zinc was similar in the two meals. For 4 hours after the meal, measurements were made of serum calcium (total and filterable), serum creatinine, and urinary calcium, creatinine, zinc and nitrogen. Calcium reabsorption was calculated in five clearance periods, as (filterable calcium X GFR) minus urinary calcium. Urinary calcium, zinc and nitrogen were significantly higher between 2 and 4 hours after consumption of the high protein meal. Protein level did not affect urine pH or volume, serum total or filterable calcium & or GFR. The percentage reabsorption of filtered calcium was significantly lower 0.5 hours after the high protein meal, so that at 2.5 hours, reabsorption was 98.0% compared to 98.7% after the lower protein meal. We conclude that protein consumption reduces the amount of calcium reabsorbed by the kidney.