Effect of Dietary Magnesium Deficiency on Calcium Transport by the Rat Small Intestine 1

Abstract

Summary

To determine the effect of dietary magnesium deprivation on intestinal calcium transport by the rat intestine, experiments were performed using an in vitro everted gut sac technique as a measure of transport. Despite the development of hypercalcemia, no increase in the ability of the intestine to transport calcium was demonstrated. The results suggest that the hypercalcemia may be mediated by a mechanism independent of an adaptive increase in intestinal calcium absorption.

The author gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Patricia Stubbert, Paula Ennis and Anne Montague.