Influence of Dietary Calcium and Phosphorus upon Action of Vitamin D in Experimental Lead Poisoning

In the preceding paper1 a marked effect of vitamin D on the blood and bone lead concentrations of lead-fed animals was demonstrated. In view of the great importance attached to the dietary calcium and phosphorus content in lead poisoning2, 3, 4 investigations were undertaken to determine the part these factors play upon the previously noted action of the antirachitic vitamin.The basal diet used in the previous experiment contained traces of calcium (0.03%) and small amounts of phosphorus (0.246%) to which basic lead carbonate was added. To this basal diet 2.5% of calcium carbonate was added to produce a high calcium low phosphorus diet; and 2.75% of anhydrous Na2HPO4 was added to produce the high phosphorus low calcium diet. The diets are described below:Albino rats raised in our laboratory from an original Wistar strain were used. The mothers were kept on the stock diet of Bills, et a.5 The young were weaned at 21 days, at which time they were placed on the stock diet. At the age of 23 to 25 days this wa...