Calcium bioavailability: an in vivo assessment
2001
Patwardhan, U.N. | Pahuja, D.N. | Samuel, A.M.
Calcium supplementation in the form of various salts has been used in humans and in experimental animals to retard bone loss and lower blood pressure, but there are few data in regard to the bioavailability of these salts in the in vivo system. Our study evaluated the effect of extra calcium supplementation in the form of three different calcium salts (i.e. calcium carbonate, (CaC) calcium lactate (CaL), and calcium phosphate (CaP) in normocalcemic and hypocalcemic status of the in vivo milieu. The male wistar rats were divided in two groups, normocalcemic and hypocalcemic (induced by vit. D deficiency). Both the groups were supplemented with extra 1.6% calcium in the form of either of these salts. The animals were screened every 4 weeks for the changes observed in the impetus in their growth (as observed by the gain in their body weight.), and the circulating levels of calcium (Ca), phosphorous (P), and magnesium (Mg) and alkaline phosphatase activity, and all these animals were sacrificed at 12 weeks after being on the high Ca, diet to study the bone mineral content. CaC supplementation for long time has shown hypercalcemic, hypomagnesemic and hypophosphatemic tendencies. CaL supplementation showed better results as compared with CaC supplementation. CaP supplementation did show some tendencies towards lowering of serum magnesium levels. However of the three salts selected for bioavailability assessment and analyzed for the parameters mentioned above, CaP seems to be a better supplement for the in vivo system compared to CaL and CaC.
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