6.7.1. Calcium and Phosphate

Quickly after the generation of mouse models for PXE [90,91], several studies were initiated to look at the effect of dietary minerals (calcium, phosphate, magnesium) that could influence ectopic mineralization. Interestingly, a first attempt at altering the level of dietary calcium fed to *Abcc6*−/<sup>−</sup> mice produced no significant effect on the calcification phenotype [138], mostly likely because plasma calcium levels are normally kept within a narrow range. However, changes to dietary minerals, notably phosphate, produced significant effects on soft tissue calcification in *Abcc6*−/<sup>−</sup> mice [137]. These results prompted the exploration of phosphate binders as therapy. However, experimental testing in mice and human PXE patients showed this approach to be ineffective [130,137].
