Calcium query

If a diet is high in calcium WITHOUT the use of a calcium supplement will it have the same effect on the body as the supplement itself. I've read the dangers of calcium supplementation, the crystallisation of organs and UTI's when the crystals seperate, but if I fed a diet that was say 5:1 - without using Ca powder will this cause the same damage?? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nixweiss.gif" alt="" />

(I don't need links to diets it's just that question has been bugging me for ages!!) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

no Idea, but I'd love to hear the answer if you find one- maybe ask a vet/nutritionalist..

I also am not sure, but it seems reasonable to think if the ratios are the same (regardless of how the calcium is ingested), the benefits and problems would be the same.

Hopefully one of our diet experts will be along to give a more definitive answer.

Yea, we need a diet person in here for certain as I'm sorry but I can't help much here either...

Okay I'll say my peace on this.

First off, 5:1 is a little OUT there.... you want to feed a balance of 2:1.
Just bear with me;
For every gram of phosphorus ingested in the diet, the body must match that with another gram of calcium before the phosphorus can be absorbed through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. If the required calcium is not available from the diet, the body will obtain it from wherever it can---such as from the storage depots in the bones. You DON'T want calcium being removed from and decreasing bone integrity. This is where HLP (Hind Leg Paralysis) or a bone degrading disease called Osteoporosis becomes a problem. It has killed many a glider. When a glider gets ill with this disease; many glider caretakers will try to over supplement with calcium to correct it. I believe this is the wrong thing to do. The calcium in large quantities can harden the liver and cause kidney failure. So ultimately not enough, and too much calcium can kill a sugar glider.

This is where the whole idea of calcium-phosphorus ratios comes in. The purpose of calculating such a ratio is to make sure that for every gram of phosphorus you're feeding, you're feeding AT LEAST an equal amount of calcium (a 1:1 ratio or better), so that calcium isn't being continually mobilized from bones. The recommended and ideal levels are somewhere between 1.2 to 2 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus. (2:1)
SO, the 5:1 is WAY off and I'm not a nutritionalist, but,.... I wouldn't recommend feeding such a clacium rich diet.
Maybe someone will be along with more extensive knowledge in this field for you soon.

Arggggh - I knew this would happen!!! lol!!! I know about ratio's and how phosphorus affects it! I wanted to know if too much 'natural' as in not supplement calcium has the same effect as the supplement!! The figures were just examples!

It wouldn't matter, calcium is calcium.

Edited to add: Even in different forms, the same effect on the internal organs would occur, possibly in a dissimilar way, which is something you should consider, and when you place a ratio as 5:1 on the message board, it would and should raise eyebrows.
Again, too much is just as bad as not enough.