A comparative study of the absorption of calcium and the availability of phytate-phosphorus in the golden hamster (<i>Mesocricetus auratus</i>) and the laboratory rat

Abstract

1. Balance studies were carried out with rats and golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) given diets high and low in calcium (10.8 and 5.1-5.2 g Ca/kg respectively) and high and low in phytate (3.4 and 1.6 g phytate-phosphorus/kg respectively) in a 2 X 2 factorial experiment. 2. Values for Ca absorption and phytate availability (relative to the amount ingested) and for urinary excretion of Ca and P were significantly higher in the hamster than in the rat for all four diets. 3. Phytate availability was significantly greater on the low-Ca than on the high-Ca diets with both species. 4. Ca absorption was greater on the low-phytate than on the high-phytate diets but the differences were significant only for the hamster. 5. Absorption of both Ca and P was poorly controlled in the hamster compared to the rat.