The Relation of Phytin to the Calcifying Action of Citrates

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Abstract
Studies have been made of the effect on bone ash of young rats fed (a) cereal rations and (b) “purified” rations containing a mixture of citric acid and sodium citrate and different amounts of calcium and phosphorus. The finding of other investigators has been confirmed that citrates promote calcification in the bones when added to cereal rations high in calcium and low in phosphorus. With a purified ration citrate does not promote calcification when the calcium level is high and phosphorus is low. Citrates have no appreciable effect on calcification when the diet contains moderate levels of calcium and phosphorus, or is low in calcium and high in phosphorus, irrespective of whether a cereal ration or a purified one is used. Citrates added to a purified ration containing phytin cause a definite increase in calcification if the Ca:P ratio is high, but there is no effect with a moderate Ca:P ratio. It is indicated that a beneficial effect of citrates in ricketogenic diets does not occur unless there is a high Ca:P ratio and appreciable quantities of phytin, or perhaps other phosphorus-containing complexes of low biological availability.