Effect of dietary calcium on blood pressure of turkeys

The influence of dietary calcium intake on blood pressure of turkeys was studied in 20 male Broad Breasted White turkeys between 45 and 52 weeks of age. The average systolic (P less than .01), diastolic (P less than .01), and mean (P less than .005) blood pressures were significantly lower in turkeys fed high dietary calcium (1.96%) than the turkeys with normal calcium diet (.98%). Concomitantly, the mean total heart weight (P less than .05), left ventricular weight (P less than .025), and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio (P less than .02) were also significantly lower in the high dietary calcium group. These results indicate that high dietary calcium not only attenuates high blood pressure in turkeys but also reduces the development of left ventricular hypertrophy, which is a consequence of arterial hypertension. In addition, high dietary calcium also reduces the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, which indicates a reduction of stress.