Influence of Varying Levels of Dietary Minerals on the Development of Urolithiasis, Hair Growth, and Weight Gains in Rats

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Abstract
Calcium at varying levels (0.3 and 1.2%), phosphorus (0.3 and 1.2%), potassium (0.1, 0.2, and 0.9%), magnesium (0.05, 0.2, and 0.5%), and sodium (0.05 and 0.81%) were fed to rats in order to produce a magnesium-phosphate type of urinary calculi. A diet containing 0.3% calcium, 1.20% phosphorus, 0.1% potassium, 0.5% magnesium, and 0.81% sodium produced a high incidence of urolithiasis within a 70-day period. Urolithiasis did not occur when the level of any of the individual minerals was varied from the levels in the calculogenic diet. Phosphate damage to the kidneys occurred with the low calcium, high phosphorus diets. Specific patterns of hair growth were present on rats receiving the low potassium diets. Weight gains were significantly affected by calcium, phosphorus, and potassium levels. Significant interactions (P < 0.01) occurred between levels of calcium and phosphorus, calcium and potassium, phosphorus and potassium, and phosphorus and magnesium in their effect on growth.