A comparison of the effects of glucose ingestion and NH4Cl acidosis on urinary calcium and magnesium excretion in man

Abstract
Both glucose ingestion and NH4Cl acidosis have been reported to augment urinary calcium (UCa V) and magnesium (UMg V) excretion. Both also cause acidification of the urine and an increase in renal acid excretion. To examine whether a common mechanism of action was involved, the effects of glucose ingestion and NH4Cl acidosis on UCa V and UMg V were tested in the same subjects. Glucose ingestion caused significant increases in both UCa V and UMg V. During stable NH4Cl acidosis, UCa V increased significantly, while UMg V was unaffected. When a glucose load was given during acidosis, the separate effects of acidosis and glucose on UCa V were additive, whereas UMg V increased less than observed during normal acid-base balance. Although renal acid excretion increased and the urine was acidified after glucose in the normal steady state, when glucose was administered during NH4Cl acidosis urine pH rose and there was no change in renal acid excretion. We concluded that NH4Cl acidosis and glucose ingestion reduce the renal tubular reabsorption of magnesium and (or) calcium, but they act through separate mechanisms.