Further studies of the effect of a high protein diet as meat on calcium metabolism.

Previous studies in this Unit have shown that a high protein intake, given as meat, did not induce hypercalciuria, except for the initial and temporary increase in two subjects. In the present investigation the long-term effect of a high meat diet on calcium metabolism was studied for 78 to 132 days in four adult males and the short-term effect for 18 to 30 days in three subjects. Calcium and phosphorus balances and calcium absorption studies, using 47Ca as the tracer, were carried out. During the long-term high meat intake and during the short-term high meat studies, there was no significant change of the urinary or fecal calcium nor of the calcium balance. There was also no significant change of the intestinal absorption of calcium during the high meat intake. These long- and short-term studies have confirmed our previous results that a high protein intake, given as meat, does not lead to hypercalciuria and does not induce calcium loss.