Calcium, Magnesium and Phosphorus Metabolism During Prolonged Exposure to Carbon Dioxide

摘要

The daily urinary excretion of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus was determined on 12 healthy volunteers during a period of 22 days exposure to an atmosphere containing 1% CO2. Serum calcium fell significantly during the period, whilst the urinary excretion of calcium fell during the first week, and then rose again subsequently. The serum magnesium remained remarkably constant, and the urinary magnesium exhibited a very similar initial pattern to calcium but did not rise again to the same extent. The serum inorganic phosphate did not change significantly but the urinary output of phosphorus fell progressively over the whole period of exposure. These results are compatible with the view that acclimatization to CO2 may result in altered renal handling of some of the substances involved in calcification of tissues. Such hypercalcification has been recorded in animals exposed to a similar environment, and it is suggested that the altered Ca and Mg ratio may be a factor in this hypercalcification. (Author)