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(Journal of Nutrition. 1999;129:1068-1074.)
© 1999 The American Society for Nutritional Sciences


Articles

Excessive Ca and P Intake during Early Maturation in Dogs Alters Ca and P Balance without Long-Term Effects after Dietary Normalization1

Inez Schoenmakers2, Herman A. W. Hazewinkel and Walter E. van den Brom

Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands

2To whom correspondence should be addressed.


    ABSTRACT
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 ANIMALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) balance is important for skeletal development. Although the effects of deficiencies are well known, reports on the effects of excessive Ca and P supply are relatively scarce. Epidemiologic data and a few controlled studies have shown that skeletal abnormalities may develop when Ca intake is excessive, particularly in periods of rapid growth. Changes in Ca and P balance during and/or after a high Ca intake are thought to underlie this phenomenon. In this study, the effects of excessive Ca (3.1 g/kg dry matter) or Ca and P (Ca 3.1 g/kg, P 2.8 g/kg) intake on Ca and P balance in young, rapidly growing dogs during (for the period from 3 to 17 wk of age) and after (for the period from 17 to 27 wk of age) high Ca and P intake were compared with findings in age-matched controls with normal Ca and P intakes (Ca 1.0 g/kg, P 0.8 g/kg). Dogs fed a high Ca diet developed hypercalcemia, and food intake and fractional absorption of Ca and P were significantly lower at 15 wk of age, whereas endogenous fecal and renal Ca excretion were significantly higher than in controls. This resulted in significantly higher Ca retention than in controls only at 9 wk of age, and in disproportionate absorption of Ca and P. In dogs fed a high Ca and P diet, normocalcemia was maintained, fractional absorption of Ca and P were significantly lower at 9 and 15 wk of age, but retention of both was significantly higher at 9 wk than in controls. The endogenous fecal Ca and renal P losses were significantly higher, but renal Ca excretion was not different from that in controls. After normalization of Ca and P intake, Ca and P balance did not differ among groups. In conclusion, excessive Ca and P intake during early maturation alters Ca and P balance, but does not influence Ca and P balance after dietary normalization.


KEY WORDS: • calcium • phosphorus • balance studies • diet • dogs


    INTRODUCTION
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 ANIMALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
In mammals, intestinal calcium (Ca)3 and phosphorus (P) absorption is through paracellular and transcellular pathways. Paracellular transport is a passive process that is dependent upon the concentration gradient, whereas transcellular transport is an active mechanism activated by 1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol [1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D-3] (Allen 1982Citation , Charles 1992Citation , Murer and Hildmann 1981Citation ). At a young age, Ca and P absorption is predominantly passive (Ghishan et al. 1980Citation , Lee et al. 1991Citation , Younoszai 1981Citation ). As a result, Ca and P absorption is a function of dietary Ca and P intake (Allen 1982Citation , Ghishan et al. 1980Citation , Heaney et al. 1975Citation , Younoszai 1981Citation ). Animals that are fed diets with a high Ca content or a disproportionately high Ca to P ratio, and/or are fed excessively, may develop hypercalcemia and consequently hypoparathyroidism and hypercalcitoninism (but not hypercalcitoninemia per se). This could be the cause of the increased incidence of skeletal abnormalities in dogs of large breeds that are fed in this way (Hazewinkel et al. 1987Citation , Hedhammar et al. 1974Citation , Slater et al. 1992Citation , Zentek et al. 1995Citation ). Chronic hypercalcemia may lead to permanent alterations in the regulation of Ca metabolism (Ahrén and Bergenfelz 1993Citation , Brown 1983Citation , Goedegebuure and Hazewinkel 1986Citation ), particularly if this occurs in an early stage of life when the organism is susceptible to programming (Barker 1997Citation ). Even after normalization of Ca and P intake, these alterations in the regulation of Ca metabolism may persist. This may have severe consequences for Ca and P balance and skeletal development.

To study the influence on Ca metabolism of an excessive dietary Ca intake with or without a proportionally high P intake from the age of partial weaning, balance studies of 45Ca and P were conducted in three groups of dogs. To allow study of permanent changes in Ca and P metabolism, Ca and P intake were normalized (control diet) from 17 to 27 wk of age. Balance studies were performed twice in both parts of the study, first after a short adaptation period (3 wk after complete weaning and 3 wk after dietary change), and then after long-term adaptation to either diet (9 wk after complete weaning and 8 wk after dietary change).


    ANIMALS AND METHODS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 ANIMALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Animals and diets.

Twenty-four Great Dane dogs, originating from four different litters (bred at our laboratory), all with comparable body weight (BW) and blood chemistry, were randomly divided into three groups at 3 wk of age. The dogs were fed a complete dry pelleted diet formulated to meet the requirements of dogs according to the NRC 1974Citation [diet normal Ca, normal P (NCaNP) n = 9 dogs] or with an identical composition as diet NCaNP, except for the Ca content [diet high Ca, normal P (HCaNP) n = 9] or the Ca and P contents [diet high Ca, high P (HCaHP) n = 6] (Table 1Citation). Ca, P, protein, fat, inorganic content (ash remaining after combustion) and dry matter were analyzed in the foods at the start of the experiment, as previously described (Nap et al. 1991Citation ) (Table 1)Citation . Dietary vitamin D content was analyzed by using the procedure described by Borsje et al. (1982)Citation . The ingredients of the diets were identical those of the diets used earlier (Hazewinkel et al. 1987Citation , Nap et al. 1993Citation ).


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Table 1. Analysis of the diets fed groups NCaNP, HCaNP and HCaHP1

 
The pups were kept with their dams from birth until 6 wk of age. From 3 until 6 wk of age, the pups were partially weaned and received diet NCaNP, HCaNP or HCaHP as a gruel. The pups were completely weaned at 6 wk of age and then fed the diet as the sole food until 17 wk of age. From 8 to 27 wk of age, the dogs were weighed twice weekly and food intake was restricted to energy requirements calculated on basis of kg (kg0.75) metabolic BW (MBW) (Lewis et al. 1987Citation ), i.e., twice the maintenance energy requirement (MER) until the age of 3 mo and 1.6 times MER from 3 to 6 mo of age. When dogs did not meet the growth curves for Great Danes (Kirk 1966Citation , Lewis et al. 1987Citation ), they were fed according to expected MBW. From 17 wk of age on, all dogs were fed diet NCaNP. Procedures were approved by the ethical committee for animal care and use of the Utrecht University.

Calcium kinetics.

Metabolic studies were performed at 9, 15, 21 and 25 wk of age. Dogs were kept individually in metabolic cages. All feces and urine were collected for 7 d. Kinetic analysis was performed using a two-compartment model (Heaney 1969 and 1973Citation Citation ). The turnover of Ca was calculated from the disappearance of 45Ca from the circulation in a 6-h period after the intravenous (iv) administration of ~0.18 MBq 45Ca as 45CaCl2 (the equivalent of 5 µCi, specific activity 0.39 GBq/mg CaCl2, Du Pont de Nemours, Boston, MA) and the stable total plasma Ca concentration, as described previously (Hazewinkel et al. 1987 and 1991Citation Citation , Nap et al. 1993Citation ). For determination of the endogenous fecal fraction of 45Ca and absorption of stable P, feces were collected for 3 d after the iv administration of 45Ca. On d 4 of each metabolic study, ~0.18 MBq 45Ca was mixed with the daily ration of food. This represents 2.6–5.3 x 10-3% of the total daily dietary Ca intake. Feces were collected for the four consecutive days for the determination of the nonabsorbed 45Ca.

Analysis of feces, urine and blood.

Individual pooled feces were weighed and homogenized with a known volume of distilled water. Four samples were taken, weighed, dried for 24 h at 60°C and ashed for 6 h in an oven at 600°C. The ash was dissolved in 10 mL hydrochloric acid (1 mol/L); distilled water was added to a volume of 100 mL. The specific activity of 45Ca was determined in a liquid scintillation counter (1212 Rackbeta, LKB Wallac, Turku, Finland), using a 0.4-mL sample thoroughly mixed with 4 mL scintillation fluid (Ultima Gold, Packard Instrument, Meridan, CT). Duplicate samples were used for the chemical determination of P concentration.

Individual urine collections were pooled and acidified with hydrochloric acid, weighed and sampled for chemical analysis of Ca and P. The excretion of Ca in the urine was measured only by analysis of the total Ca concentration because the specific activity in urine was too low for reliable counting of 45Ca (Schoenmakers, H. Hazewinkel and W. van den Brom, unpublished results).

Blood samples for the counting of 45Ca and analysis of stable Ca were collected from the jugular vein. Blood was immediately transferred to heparin-coated tubes, and the specific activity of 45Ca in plasma was determined as described for the fecal samples.

Chemical analysis.

The concentrations of Ca in urine and plasma were analyzed colorimetrically after complexing with Arseno-III (Beckman Instruments, Brea, CA). The concentrations of P in urine and ashed feces were analyzed by the molybdate method with reduction (Beckman Instruments). The analysis of fecal P concentration by this method was validated by preparation of a solution of purified tricalciumphosphate [Ca3(PO4)2] (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) in hydrochloric acid and distilled water, as described for the ashed fecal samples. Serial dilutions in triplicate, with each sample determined in duplicate, revealed parallelism with the calculated standard line, with a mean deviation in slope of 2%.

Data processing.

The intake of Ca (VICa) and P (VIP) was determined by means of daily weighing of the food given to each dog and subtraction of the uneaten remainder. The total fecal content of 45Ca after its iv (R3) and oral (RF) administration was determined from the specific activity of 45Ca in the ashed fecal samples. The total fecal content of P (VFP) was determined from the P content of the ashed fecal sample. The turnover of Ca (TCa) was calculated from the disappearance of 45Ca from the circulation after iv administration. The total urinary Ca (VuCa) and P (VuP) losses were calculated from the urine volume and the stable Ca and P concentrations in the urine.

From these data, the following parameters were calculated: the total daily loss of Ca in the feces (VFCa); the endogenous intestinal excreted Ca that is not reabsorbed (VfCa); the absolute quantity of Ca absorbed from the diet, i.e., the true calcium absorption (VaCa); the fraction of Ca absorbed from the total Ca intake ({alpha}Ca) and the calcium retention ({Delta}Ca), i.e., the difference between the calcium accretion (Vo+Ca) and resorption (Vo- Ca) from bone (Table 2Citation).


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Table 2. Calculation of parameters used in the calcium and phosphorus metabolic studies1

 
For P, VFP represents the total daily loss of P in the feces, determined from the stable P content of the feces. This includes the endogenous fecal P fraction. Thus, P absorption (VAP) and the fraction of P absorbed ({alpha}P) represent the amount or fraction of P absorbed, minus the endogenously excreted P. Therefore, these parameters are called the apparent absorption and fraction of apparent absorption, respectively (Table 2)Citation .

Finally, all parameters were converted to mmol Ca or P per kg BW per day, except for {alpha}Ca and {alpha}P.

Statistical analysis and data presentation.

All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS for Windows 7.0 (SPSS, Chicago, IL). Differences between groups were analyzed by multiple comparisons (Tukey's test) after a one-way ANOVA and testing for homogeneity of variance with Barlett's test. The one-tailed Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between the absorbed fraction of 45Ca and P. Values were considered different when P < 0.05. Results are presented as means ± SEM.


    RESULTS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 ANIMALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Calcium: 3–17 wk of age.

Plasma Ca concentration was significantly higher in group HCaNP than in groups NCaNP and HCaHP at both 9 and 15 wk of age (Table 3Citation). Growth of dogs of groups HCaNP and HCaHP remained significantly behind the growth of their littermates in group NCaNP, which was consistent with growth charts for Great Danes (Kirk 1966Citation , Lewis et al. 1987Citation ) (Table 3)Citation . Food intake (thus energy intake) was according to the calculated requirements in groups NCaNP and HCaHP, whereas dogs of group HCaNP consumed significantly less per kg MBW (Table 3)Citation . Because the dogs were fed according to the expected MBW with regard to age and breed, the dogs in groups HCaNP and HCaHP were allowed to consume more food per kilogram actual MBW than were dogs of group NCaNP. As a consequence, VICa in group HCaHP was 3.2 and 3.6 times the VICa measured in group NCaNP at 9 and 15 wk of age, respectively, whereas in group HCaNP VICa was only 2.4 times VICa in group NCaNP at 9 wk of age and 2.7 times at 15 wk of age (Fig. 1Citation ).


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Table 3. Plasma calcium (Ca) concentration, body weight (BW), and energy intake in dogs fed diets with different Ca and phosphorus (P) concentrations from 3 to 17 wk of age and diet NCaNP from 17 to 27 wk of age1

 


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Figure 1. Ca intake (VICa), the fraction of true Ca absorption ({alpha}Ca), the true Ca absorption (VaCa), endogenous fecal Ca excretion (VfCa), renal Ca loss (VuCa) and Ca retention ({Delta}Ca) in three groups of dogs fed diets with different Ca and P concentrations from 3 to 17 wk of age [normal Ca, normal P (NCaNP; n = 9): 1.04 g Ca, 0.82 g P; high Ca , normal P (HCaNP; n = 9): 3.11 g Ca, 0.87 g P; high Ca, high P (HCaHP; n = 6): 3.10 g Ca, 2.77 g P per 100 g dry matter] and identical diets (all dogs 1.04 g Ca, 0.82 g P per 100 g dry matter) from 17 to 27 wk of age, as revealed by balance studies at 9, 15, 21 and 25 wk of age. Data are presented as means + SEM. Significant differences (with P <= 0.05), are indicated by A (different from group NCaNP) and/or B (different from group HCaNP). The solid bar represents group NCaNP, the open bar, group HCaNP and the hatched bar, group HCaHP.

 
The {alpha}Ca at 9 wk of age was significantly lower in group HCaHP, and at 15 wk of age significantly lower in both group HCaNP and group HCaHP compared with {alpha}Ca in group NCaNP (Fig. 1)Citation . When the dogs were 9 wk old, the VaCa in group HCaNP and in group HCaHP was significantly higher than the VaCa in group NCaNP, whereas at 15 wk of age, the VaCa in groups HCaNP and HCaHP did not differ significantly from the VaCa in group NCaNP (Fig. 1)Citation . The VfCa was significantly higher in group HCaNP and HCaHP than in group NCaNP at both 9 and 15 wk of age (Fig. 1)Citation . The VuCa was significantly higher in group HCaNP than in group NCaNP and HCaHP in this period of the study (Fig. 1Citation ). At 9 wk, {Delta}Ca was significantly higher in group HCaNP and HCaHP than in group NCaNP. At 15 wk, however, {Delta}Ca in groups HCaNP and HCaHP did not differ significantly from {Delta}Ca in group NCaNP (Fig. 1)Citation . Vo+Ca and Vo-Ca were highly variable within each group at both 9 and 15 wk of age and did not differ significantly (for group NCaNP, Vo+Ca = 26.2 ± 5.25 and 27.8 ± 1.89 mmol Ca/kg BW, Vo-Ca = 20.2 ± 5.56 and 23.2 ± 2.07 mmol Ca/kg BW at 9 and 15 wk of age, respectively. For group HCaNP, Vo+Ca = 25.0 ± 2.76 and 30.7 ± 1.46 mmol Ca/kg BW, Vo-Ca = 13.7 ± 2.63 and 26.2 ± 1.58 mmol Ca/kg BW at 9 and 15 wk of age, respectively. For group HCaHP, Vo+Ca = 30.7 ± 1.32 and 25.7 ± 1.18 mmol Ca/kg BW, Vo-Ca = 17.4 ± 1.32 and 21.6 ± 1.90 mmol Ca/kg BW at 9 and 15 wk of age, respectively).

Phosphorus: 3–17 wk of age.

VIP in group HCaNP did not differ significantly from VIP in group NCaNP, whereas VIP in group HCaHP was significantly higher. The {alpha}P was significantly lower at both 9 and 15 wk of age in groups HCaNP and HCaHP than in group NCaNP (Fig. 2Citation ). VAP was significantly higher in group HCaHP than in groups NCaNP and HCaNP at 9 wk of age. When the dogs were 15 wk old, VAP in group HCaHP had decreased and was no longer significantly different from VAP in group NCaNP. VAP was significantly lower in group HCaNP than in group NCaNP and group HCaHP at both 9 and 15 wk of age (Fig. 2)Citation . The concentration of P in the urine was almost undetectable in group HCaNP at 9 and 15 wk of age, resulting in a significantly lower VuP than in groups NCaNP and HCaHP. VuP was significantly higher in group HCaHP than in group NCaNP at both 9 and 15 wk of age (Fig. 2)Citation . {Delta}P was higher at 9 wk in group HCaHP than in groups NCaNP and HCaNP. At 15 wk, {Delta}P in groups HCaNP and HCaHP was not significantly different from {Delta}P in group NCaNP (Fig. 2)Citation .



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Figure 2. P intake (VIP), the fraction of apparent P absorption ({alpha}P), the apparent P absorption (VAP), renal P loss (VuP) and P retention ({Delta}P) in three groups of dogs fed diets with different Ca and P contents from 3 to 17 wk of age and identical diets from 17 to 27 wk of age, as revealed by balance studies at 9, 15, 21 and 25 wk of age. The solid bar represents group NCaNP, the open bar group HCaNP and the hatched bar group HCaHP. See legend of Figure 1Citation for further details.

 
Calcium: 17–27 wk of age.

Plasma Ca concentration did not differ among groups at 21 and 25 wk of age (Table 3)Citation . Food intake improved in dogs of groups HCaNP and HCaHP as soon as they were fed diet NCaNP (Table 3)Citation . BW increased but was still significantly lower at 21 and 25 wk of age than in group NCaNP (Table 3)Citation . Because the dogs were fed according to expected MBW, VICa in groups HCaNP and HCaHP was significantly higher than in group NCaNP at 21 wk of age. At 25 wk, VICa in groups HCaNP and HCaHP was comparable to VICa in group NCaNP (Fig. 1)Citation . The {alpha}Ca in groups HCaNP and HCaHP increased to values not different from {alpha}Ca in group NCaNP at both 21 and 25 wk of age (Fig. 1)Citation . VaCa was slightly, but significantly higher in group HCaHP, but not in group HCaNP compared with dogs of group NCaNP at 21 wk of age. At 25 wk, VaCa in groups HCaNP and HCaHP did not differ significantly from VaCa in group NCaNP (Fig. 1)Citation . VfCa in groups HCaNP and HCaHP was comparable to VfCa in group NCaNP at 25 wk of age, but at 21 wk, VfCa in group HCaHP was significantly lower than in group HCaNP, but not group NCaNP (Fig. 1)Citation . VuCa was higher in group HCaHP than in groups NCaNP and HCaNP at 21 wk of age. At 25 wk, VuCa in groups HCaNP and HCaHP did not differ from that in group NCaNP (Fig. 1)Citation . {Delta}Ca was higher in group HCaHP at 21 wk of age than in group NCaNP, but not in group HCaNP. {Delta}Ca in groups HCaNP and HCaHP was not different from that in group NCaNP at 25 wk of age (Fig. 1)Citation . At 21 wk, Vo-Ca was significantly lower in group HCaHP (12.3 ± 3.47 mmol Ca/kg BW) than in group HCaNP (20.3 ± 1.00 mmol Ca/kg BW), but not in group NCaNP (17.2 ± 0.52 mmol Ca/kg BW). There were no differences in Vo+Ca at 21 wk of age (in group NCaNP, Vo+Ca = 20.7 ± 0.65 mmol Ca/kg BW; in HCaNP, Vo+Ca = 24.8 ±1.05 mmol Ca/kg BW; and in HCaHP, Vo+Ca = 17.2 ± 3.17 mmol Ca/kg BW), nor were there significant differences among groups for values of Vo+Ca and Vo-Ca at 25 wk of age (for group NCaNP, Vo+Ca = 21.9 ± 2.92 mmol Ca/kg BW, Vo-Ca = 17.9 ± 3.13 mmol Ca/kg BW; for group HCaNP, Vo+Ca = 21.6 ± 0.75 mmol Ca/kg BW, Vo-Ca = 16.3 ± 0.73 mmol Ca/kg BW; and for group HCaHP, Vo+Ca = 19.3 ± 0.37 mmol Ca/kg BW, Vo-Ca = 14.0 ± 0.95 mmol Ca/kg BW).

Phosphorus: 17–27 wk of age.

The intake of food, thus VIP, was significantly higher in groups HCaNP and HCaHP than in group NCaNP at 21wk of age (Fig. 2)Citation . VIP in groups HCaNP and HCaHP did not differ from that in group NCaNP at 25 wk of age. Values for {alpha}P in groups HCaNP and HCaHP were not different from those in group NCaNP at both 21 and 25 wk of age (Fig. 2)Citation . VAP was higher in group HCaHP, but not in group HCaNP compared with group NCaNP at 21 wk of age, whereas at 25 wk of age, VAP in groups HCaNP and HCaHP did not differ from VAP in group NCaNP (Fig. 2)Citation .VuP was significantly higher in group HCaHP than in groups NCaNP and HCaNP at 21 wk of age, but VuP in groups HCaNP and HCaHP did not differ from VuP in group NCaNP at 25 wk of age (Fig. 2)Citation . {Delta}P in groups HCaNP and HCaHP was not different from {Delta}P in group NCaNP at both 21 and 25 wk of age (Fig. 2)Citation .

Correlation between the fraction of absorption of calcium and phosphorus.

The correlation coefficient between {alpha}Ca and {alpha}P was significant at 15 (r = 0.82, P < 0.001) and 21 (r = 0.53, P = 0.008) wk of age, but not at 9 (r = -0.23, P = 0.331) and 25 (r = -0.18, P = 0.401) wk of age.


    DISCUSSION
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 ANIMALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
High Ca feeding, initiated at the time of partial weaning, led to decreased growth velocity, food intake and {alpha}Ca and an increased VfCa. Increased VuCa appears to be dependent on elevation of plasma Ca concentration, which occurred only in the dogs fed the high Ca diet without a proportionally high P content. Despite these changes, VaCa and {Delta}Ca were higher in both groups with high Ca intake than in controls at 9 wk of age. At 15 wk of age, however, the significantly lower {alpha}Ca in these groups led to values of VaCa and {Delta}Ca that were not different from controls. Fractional P absorption appeared to follow the same pattern as {alpha}Ca, independent of P intake. In dogs of group HCaNP, this led to a significantly lower VAP at both 9 and 15 wk of age, together with reduced VuP, whereas dogs of group HCaHP excreted a significant part of the absorbed P in the urine. At 9 wk of age, {Delta}P was elevated in group HCaHP, but at 15 wk, there were no differences in {Delta}P among the three groups. These alterations in Ca and P balance at a young age appeared to be fully reversed after 8 wk of consuming a normal Ca diet.

Ca absorption and retention in dogs of group NCaNP (controls) were comparable to data previously reported for large- and small-breed dogs (Hazewinkel et al. 1987Citation , Nap et al. 1993Citation ) fed diets of similar composition and studied at a comparable age.

The decreasing {alpha}Ca and {alpha}P in the high Ca groups can possibly be explained by a decline in 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D-3 mediated active Ca and P absorption (Kayne et al. 1993Citation , Nordin 1976Citation , Schaafsma and Visser 1980Citation ), together with decreasing passive absorption due to intestinal maturation, as described in rats (Ambrecht et al. 1980Citation , Ghishan et al. 1980Citation ) and infants (Allen 1982Citation , Barltop et al. 1977Citation , Younoszai et al. 1981Citation ). However, the regulation of the decline in 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D-3 mediated absorption of Ca and P may be essentially different for the two high Ca groups. In group HCaNP, hypercalcemia-induced hypoparathyroidism may be expected, resulting in decreased 1{alpha}-hydroxylation of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol in the kidney (Horst and Reinhardt 1997Citation ), which may have been reversed by the high tubular maximum (Tmax) for P (Drezner 1997Citation ) and the hypophosphatemia observed in these dogs (not shown) (Baxter and DeLuca 1976Citation , Bushinsky et al. 1989Citation , Fox and Care 1978Citation , Slatopolsky and Brown, 1997Citation ). In group HCaHP, the decreased Tmax for P may have decreased renal production in the presence of parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion, as reported by Drezner (1997)Citation in humans.

It appears that intestinal absorption of P is dependent on Ca metabolism, whereas a dietary intake of excessive amounts of P did not influence the absorption of Ca in rats, cats, and men (Charles 1992Citation , Pastoor et al. 1995Citation , Schaafsma and Visser 1980Citation , Spencer et al. 1986Citation ). This is in agreement with our findings and can be explained by the dependence of active P absorption on 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D-3. In addition, especially in dogs of group HCaNP, the availability of P may be altered by the presence of the excessive quantities of Ca in the gastrointestinal tract, precipitating with P to insoluble Ca-P complexes at a pH >6.1, as found in the middle and distal parts of the small intestine (Allen 1982Citation , Charles 1992Citation , Pastoor et al. 1994Citation , Schünemann et al. 1989Citation ).

The relative deficit or excess of P absorbed is partly corrected for by modulation of renal P excretion, whereas for Ca, this is limited to a maximum (Broadus, 1993Citation ). Renal Ca and P excretion was regulated mainly by PTH. In the hypercalcemic dogs of group HCaNP, a high glomerular filtration of Ca may be expected. Due to hypoparathyroidism in these dogs, Ca reabsorption would decrease and Tmax for P would increase (Hazewinkel et al. 1991Citation , Lemann 1993Citation , Nordin 1976Citation , Sutton et al. 1976a and 1976bCitation Citation , Yanagawa and Lee 1992Citation ). In the normocalcemic HCaHP-fed dogs, PTH-mediated Ca reabsorption can be expected, whereas the Tmax for P decreases.

Although VuCa and VuP are under hormonal control, the endogenous excretion of Ca is probably not directly under that influence because variations in Ca intake did not influence the secretion of Ca in the digestive juices (Heaney and Recker 1982Citation ). Rather, VfCa may be determined by the degree of reabsorption of the endogenously excreted Ca and is thus inversely related to {alpha}Ca, as revealed by this and other studies (Heaney 1969Citation , Heaney and Recker 1994Citation , Levine et al. 1982Citation ).

Food intake in the group HCaNP, and to lesser extent in group HCaHP, was lower than might be expected, and was allowed for on the basis of the MBW of the matched controls in group NCaNP. This may have been due to enhanced calcitonin excretion, especially postprandially, which influences the satiety center (Azria 1989Citation , Morley 1987Citation ), together with the hypercalcemia as observed in group HCaNP (Thys-Jacobs et al. 1997Citation ). A decreased rate of growth in dogs fed a diet with a high Ca content has been demonstrated previously (Hazewinkel et al. 1987Citation , Kealy 1977Citation , Stephens et al. 1985Citation , Voorhout et al. 1987Citation ) and also occurs in other species (Azria 1989Citation ). It remains unclear whether BW gain in groups HCaNP and HCaHP was decreased because of insufficient energy intake or whether the mineral imbalance was responsible, i.e., decreased food intake was the result (Jasper and Cassinelli 1993Citation , Klein and Simmons 1993Citation ). In addition, when P supply is insufficient, P is preferentially used for soft tissue growth and energy metabolism; consequently skeletal mineralization and growth rate are slower (Baylink et al. 1971Citation , Loughead and Tsang 1991Citation ). This might have played a role in group HCaNP and was reflected by signs of rickets in these dogs (I. Schoenmakers, H. Hazewinkel, G. Voorhout, C. Carlson and D. Richardson, unpublished results).

Due to the lower food intake in groups HCaNP and HCaHP, VICa and VIP were reduced, which decreased VaCa and VAP independently of, and in addition to the decreased fractional absorption of these minerals. All of these changes resulted in values for {Delta}Ca and {Delta}P in the high Ca groups that were not different from those in the control dogs at 15 wk of age. At 9 wk of age, the predominantly passive diffusion of Ca and P can be held responsible for the high VaCa in both high Ca groups and for the discrepancy between VaCa and VAP, resulting in an altered {Delta}Ca to {Delta}P ratio in group HCaNP.

From 17 wk of age, all three groups were fed the control diet, to allow for the study of the long-term consequences of a high Ca intake at an early age. Despite slight differences at 21 wk of age, all groups developed the same pattern of Ca and P metabolism, together with normalization of the plasma Ca concentration in group HCaNP.

From this study, it can be concluded that feeding dogs a diet high in Ca, with or without a proportional increase in P content, from the beginning of food intake in addition to the dam's milk, led to a higher Ca retention than in those fed a diet having a Ca content according to the requirements of dogs, only at a young age. At a later stage of maturation and after a longer period of adaptation, Ca retention did not differ from that in dogs fed a normal Ca diet. This was a result of decreased Ca absorption, probably via both the passive- and the active-mediated pathway of absorption. As a consequence, P absorption also decreased, with disproportionate Ca and P absorption in the group fed the high Ca, but normal P diet. Although this decreased Ca absorption might protect the animal from the deleterious effects of high Ca uptake, the hormonal changes and P deficiency, when Ca and P intake are not elevated proportionally, disturb normal skeletal development (I. Schoenmakers, H. Hazewinkel, G. Voorhout, C. Carlson and D. Richardson, unpublished results). The Ca and P balance was not permanently altered by excessive intake at a young age, as revealed by studies performed after the reconstitution of Ca and P intake according to the requirements of dogs.


    FOOTNOTES
 
1 Supported by the Mark Morris Institute and the Utrecht University. Back

3 Abbreviations used: BW, body weight; Ca, calcium; 45Ca, the radioactive isotope 45calcium; HCaHP, high calcium, high phosphorus; HCaNP, high calcium, normal phosphorus; iv, intravenous; MBW, metabolic body weight; MER, maintenance energy requirement; NCaNP, normal calcium, normal phosphorus; P, phosphorus; PTH, parathyroid hormone; R3, total fecal content of 45calcium after intravenous administration; RF, total fecal content of 45calcium after oral administration; TCa, turnover of calcium; Tmax, tubular maximum; VaCa, true calcium absorption; VAP, apparent phosphorus absorption; VFCa, daily fecal excretion of stable calcium; VfCa, endogenous fecal calcium fraction; VFP, daily fecal excretion of stable phosphorus; VICa, calcium intake; VIP, phosphorus intake; 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D-3, 1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol; Vo+Ca, calcium accretion; Vo-Ca, calcium liberated by bone resorption; VuCa, urinary loss of calcium; VuP, urinary loss of phosphorus; {alpha}Ca, fractional absorption of calcium; {alpha}P, fractional absorption of phosphorus; {Delta}Ca, calcium retention; {Delta}P, phosphorus retention. Back

Manuscript received August 24, 1998. Initial review completed September 14, 1998. Revision accepted January 13, 1999.


    REFERENCES
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 ANIMALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
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