Calcium and protein

Calcium deficiency can be associated with an excess of animal protein.

The digestion of animal proteins releases a chemical product called urea. It is formed in the liver and excreted via the kidneys and produces an acid condition in the blood.

The body neutralizes this acid by releasing calcium from the bones. The kidneys have to increase their workload to get rid of the excess urea. At the same time, kidneys begin to excrete large amounts of calcium.

Two complications may resulst from this auto-regulation:

1. This calcium mixes with uric acid in the kidneys and form kidney stones
2. The body, which is trying to neutralize the acidity, is taking the calcium out of the bones and this can result to osteoporosis.

It seems that population who eat the most animal proteins tend to have the higher rate of osteoporosis than populations who eat less animal products.
Diets providing vegetable rather than animal protein may actually protect against bone loss and osteoporosis.