Calcium Retention in the Adult Human Male as Affected by Protein Intake

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Abstract
The effect of level of protein intake on the excretion and retention of calcium in the adult human male was studied. Nine young men given 800 mg calcium daily were fed 47, 95 and 142 g protein each for 15 days. Subjects retained an average of 12 and 1 mg calcium, respectively, when fed 47 and 95 g protein but lost 85 mg when fed 142 g. There was a highly significant difference in urinary calcium at each level of protein intake, the respective values being 217, 303 and 426 mg calcium when the subjects were fed the low, medium and high protein diet. Fecal calcium was significantly decreased as the protein intake was increased from 47 to either 95 or 142 g daily but not when it was increased from 95 to 142 g. Protein intake had no effect on serum calcium.