By means of isotope 47Ca, changes in the rate and intensity of calcium absorption from lactose-free milk and normal milk were investigated as well as 47Ca losses in faeces and urine and Ca retention in the organism during a 7-day period in healthy volunteers and in patients with lactose intolerance. The shape of 47Ca absorption curves after lactose-free milk in healthy subjects is lower than after milk with a normal lactose content. Conversely, in subjects with lactose intolerance, the shape of the absorption curves of 47Ca was lower after ingestion of normal milk and higher after ingestion of lactose-free milk. The total amount of absorbed and retained Ca practically does not differ, regardless whether Ca was administered in milk or lactose-free milk. No significant differences were found in the utilization of Ca in subjects with lactose intolerance. In these patients, the retardation of the peaks of the absorption curves after ingestion of milk most probably suggests a compensatory delay of gastric evacuation. The slower supply of chyme into the gut improves the utilization of Ca in spite of relative lactase insufficiency. Well-tolerated lactose-free milk could be used to ensure a sufficient dietary supply of Ca in subjects with lactose intolerance.
SummaryWhole-body counting makes an important contribution of radioisotope techniques to ȁEin vivo“ absorption studies, in comparison with other methods. In a large number of subjects, the method was tested for its usefulness in the diagnosis of calcium malabsorption. The effects of drugs, of the calcium load in the gut and of the whole-body content of calcium on the absorption process were studied in a control group.
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