Calcium Phosphorus Ratio - Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism /miller’s disease or bran disease or big head disease

CALCIUM PHOSPHORUS RATIO - NUTRITIONAL SECONDARY HYPERPARATHYROIDISM

  • The optimum calcium phosphorus ratio is between 1:1 and 2:1.
    • An excess of dietary phosphorus in relation to calcium may result in a bone disorder called nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (NSH).
    • An excess of phosphorus depresses calcium absorption and leads to decrease in blood calcium level which stimulates the release of PTH which mobilizes calcium from the bone.
    • The demineralised bone is replaced by fibrous connective tissue.
  • Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism occurs in horses that are fed large amount of grains or their byproducts without calcium supplementation. The condition is also referred to as miller’s disease or bran disease or big head disease.
Last modified: Sunday, 28 August 2011, 8:52 AM