uptake and distribution of cadmium-115m in calcium deficient and zinc deficient golden hamsters

Dietary calcium and zinc deficiencies have been shown to contribute to the development of various diseases related to cadmium ingestion. The effects of normal calcium deficient and zinc deficient diets on the intake and distribution of cadmium-115m in the Golden hamster was investigated. Reduced calcium intake increased the absorption of cadmium into body tissue, but did not affect the cadmium content of bone. Hamsters provided with a zinc deficient diet retained less cadmium in the kidneys. Examination of the replacement of zinc by cadmium in the liver and pancreas may help to explain the decrease in kidney cadmium seen in the investigation.