Long-Term Phosphorus Restriction Prevents Corticomedullary Nephrocalcinosis and Sustains Reproductive Performance but Delays Bone Mineralization in Rats

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In a long-term experiment with three successive generations of rats, the influence of dietary phosphorus restriction (2 instead of 4 g phosphorus/kg diet) on nephrocalcinosis, reproduction and bone mineralization was studied. Nephrocalcinosis in female rats, as based on kidney calcium concentration and histological examination, was prevented by phosphorus restriction. The low phosphorus diet caused reduced femur concentrations of magnesium, calcium and phosphorus in rats of the first and second generation aged 4 to 12 wk. The low phosphorus diet resulted in lower plasma phosphorus concentrations. In the kidneys of female rats, immediately after lactation, a higher degree of tubular hyperplasia was seen after the low phosphorus diet was fed. Reproductive performance was not affected by phosphorus restriction. We conclude that 0.2% phosphorus in the diet prevents nephrocalcinosis in female rats while it sustains reproduction but delays bone mineralization.