Due to its low digestibility in the small intestine, a major fraction of the polyol isomalt reaches the colon. However, little is known about effects on the intestinal microflora. During two 4-week periods in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design, nineteen healthy volunteers consumed a controlled basal diet enriched with either 30 g isomalt or 30 g sucrose daily. Stools were collected at the end of each test phase and various microbiological and luminal markers were analysed. Fermentation characteristics of isomalt were also investigated in vitro. Microbiological analyses of faecal samples indicated a shift of the gut flora towards an increase of bifidobacteria following consumption of the isomalt diet compared with the sucrose diet (P, 0·05). During the isomalt phase, the activity of bacterial b-glucosidase decreased (P, 0·05) whereas b-glucuronidase, sulfatase, nitroreductase and urease remained unchanged. Faecal polyamines were not different between test periods with the exception of cadaverine, which showed a trend towards a lower concentration following isomalt (P¼0·055). Faecal SCFA, lactate, bile acids, neutral sterols, N, NH 3 , phenol and p-cresol were not affected by isomalt consumption. In vitro, isomalt was metabolized in several bifidobacteria strains and yielded high butyrate concentrations. Isomalt, which is used widely as a low-glycaemic and low-energy sweetener, has to be considered a prebiotic carbohydrate that might contribute to a healthy luminal environment of the colonic mucosa.

This study assessed effects of the bisphosphonate zoledronate (ZLN) on bone density and biochemical markers of bone turnover in ovariectomized (OVX) adult female rhesus monkeys. Forty monkeys were randomly assigned to one control or four OVX groups. The control and one OVX group received saline, and the other three OVX groups received ZLN (0.5, 2.5, or 12.5 g/kg) by a single weekly subcutaneous injection for 69 weeks. Bone mass of the total body (TB), lumbar spine (LS), distal and central radius (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), and skeletal turnover markers were measured at baseline and at 13, 26, 39, 52, and 69 weeks of treatment. Increased skeletal turnover and decreased bone mass (LS and TB) were demonstrable by 13 weeks post-OVX. Maximal bone loss (7-8%) at these sites occurred by 39 weeks after OVX and persisted for the study duration. Long-term ZLN treatment was well tolerated and prevented increased skeletal turnover and bone loss in a dose-dependent fashion. Progressive turnover suppression was not observed with any ZLN dose. In conclusion, after OVX, adult rhesus monkeys develop persistent increased bone turnover and absolute osteopenia of the LS and TB, making them an outstanding model of skeletal behavior in perimenopausal women. These OVX-related skeletal changes are dose-dependently blocked by ZLN. (J Bone Miner Res 1998;13:1775-1782)

The polyol isomalt (Palatinit w ) is a well established sugar replacer. The impact of regular isomalt consumption on metabolism and parameters of gut function in nineteen healthy volunteers was examined in a randomised, double-blind, cross-over trial with two 4-week test periods. Volunteers received 30 g isomalt or 30 g sucrose daily as part of a controlled diet. In addition to clinical standard diagnostics, biomarkers and parameters currently discussed as risk factors for CHD, diabetes or obesity were analysed. Urine and stool Ca and phosphate excretions were measured. In addition, mean transit time, defecation frequency, stool consistency and weight were determined. Consumption of test products was affirmed by the urinary excretion of mannitol. Blood lipids were comparable in both phases, especially in volunteers with hyperlipidaemia, apart from lower apo A-1 (P¼0·03) for all subjects. Remnant-like particles, oxidised LDL, NEFA, fructosamine and leptin were comparable and not influenced by isomalt. Ca and phosphate homeostasis was not affected. Stool frequency was moderately increased in the isomalt phase (P¼0·006) without changes in stool consistency and stool water. This suggests that isomalt is well tolerated and that consumption of isomalt does not impair metabolic function or induce hypercalciuria. In addition, the study data indicate that isomalt could be useful in improving bowel function.

Zoledronate (CGP 42446) is a third generation imidazole ring containing bisphosphonate that has been found in animal studies to be up to 850 times more potent than pamidronate. In this first study reporting the effects of this drug in humans, 16 patients with active Paget's disease of bone [baseline serum alkaline phosphatase activity (SAP) at least twice the upper limit of normal] were treated in a fixed ascending dose-ranging protocol with a single 1-hour infusion of either 24, 72, 216, or 400 microg of zoledronate (four patients per dose). SAP and two markers of bone resorption, 24-hour urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine excretion (OHP) and 24-hour urinary calcium/creatinine excretion, were measured at baseline, 24 hours postinfusion (day 1) and on postinfusion days 3, 7, 10, and 14. Safety parameters including vital signs, hemogram, and chemistries were measured at the same time points. At the 24- and 72-microg doses there were no consistent or meaningful changes in the bone resorption markers. However, with the 216 microg dose, urinary OHP decreased from baseline by a mean of 16-19% on days 3, 7, 10, and 14; with the 400 microg dose, OHP decreased by a mean of 33-48% at days 1, 7, and 10 and by 16% at day 14. Urinary calcium/creatinine decreased from baseline with the 216 microg dose by a mean of 15-40% on days 1, 3, 7, 10, and 14 and with the 400 microg dose by a mean of 55-71% on days 3, 7, 10, and 14. As expected, there was no reduction in SAP during the 14-day postinfusion period. There was no evidence of an acute phase reaction (pyrexia, myalgia, or arthralgia), leukopenia, or renal or hepatic toxicity. We conclude that single infusions of microgram amounts of zoledronate were capable of inhibiting bone resorption in patients with active Paget's disease during a 2-week study interval. This anti-bone resorbing effect was not associated with any clinically or biochemically observed toxicity. This potent new bisphosphonate appears to be a promising compound for the management of skeletal disorders characterized by increased bone resorption.