EFFECT OF ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE ORALLY ON CALCIUM, PHOSPHORUS AND ALUMINUM METABOLISM IN NORMAL SUBJECTS

Five normal subjects were given 100 ml of aluminum hydroxide gel/day for 28 days. The P balance became more positive in 1 subject, less negative in 2 and changed from negative to positive in the other 2 subjects. This was accompanied by a rise in the concentration of the fasting morning plasma P. Ca balance did not change. The normal subjects absorbed 0.3-3.6 mmol of Al/day, significantly less than that absorbed by 5 patients with chronic renal failure, 3 of whom were studied before, and 2 after, the observations on the normal subjects were completed. In a further 5 normal subjects on 100 ml of aluminum hydroxide gel/day the 08.00 h concentration of plasma P did not fall, though there was a fall at 11.00, 14.00 and 17.00 h.