The Mineral Exchanges of Man

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Abstract
Calcium, Magnesium and Phosphorus Metabolism. —Potassium citrate when added in quantities of 7.8, 10.5 and 24.0 gm. respectively to the diets of two normal men and to the diet of a patient with nephritis and oedema, for periods of five days in each instance, did not alter the metabolism of calcium, magnesium or phosphorus. —The ingestion of 9.8 and 13.0 gm. of calcium chloride per diem by the normal men for five-day periods led to marked increase in the urinary and fecal calcium excretion and at least temporarily to positive calcium balances. In the nephritic subject where the ingestion of 2.2 gm. per diem of calcium chloride was accompanied by intramuscular injection of large doses of parathormone, urinary calcium excretion was increased but the quantity excreted was much less than that excreted by the normal men during the control period. Fecal calcium in his case was excessive and resulted in a distinctly negative calcium balance. —The magnesium balances of all three subjects became negative during the period of calcium chloride—parathormone administration. —The influence of calcium chloride feeding on phosphorus metabolism could not be completely evaluated because of the number of variable factors entering into the experiment. Sodium, Potassium and Chlorine Metabolism. —High potassium feeding for five-day periods did not produce negative balances in the metabolism of sodium and chlorine in the normal subjects. —The much larger doses of potassium citrate taken by the nephritic subject caused a marked increase in the excretion of sodium and chlorine in his urine, which resulted in negative balances for both elements. Diuresis, sweating and weight loss accompanied the increased excretion of sodium and chlorine. —In the normal subjects, sodium and potassium balances were negative during the period of calcium chloride feeding. This is believed to have been due to the acid effect of calcium chloride but the negative potassium balances may have been due to delay in excretion of this element resulting from administration of potassium citrate in the immediately preceding period. —The comparatively small doses of calcium chloride given the man with nephritis did not affect his sodium or potassium metabolism. Attention has been called to the unusually small amount of sodium and calcium excreted in the urine of the nephritic subject during the control period, and this has been contrasted with his normal urinary excretion of potassium and magnesium. The total nitrogen metabolism was not affected by the administration of potassium citrate or calcium chloride. Iron was stored by both normal subjects on an average food iron intake of 21 mg. per diem. In the nephritic subject, if one excludes the control period, a food iron intake of 12 mg. per diem was sufficient to maintain iron balance.

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