Long-Term Administration of 4G-.BETA.-D-Galactosylsucrose (Lactosucrose) Enhances Intestinal Calcium Absorption in Young Women: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled 96-wk Study

Abstract

SummaryThis study determined the effect of long-term administration of 4 G -␤ -D -galactosylsucrose (lactosucrose; LS) on intestinal calcium absorption. In a randomized, singleblind, parallel-group study, LS ( n ϭ 9, 6.0 g twice daily) or a placebo (maltose; n ϭ 8, 6.0 g twice daily) was administered to healthy young women for 92 wk; the study also included a 4-wk post-administration period. All participants completed the study. Dietary nutrient intake; fecal weight, pH, and moisture content; fecal concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), putrefactive products, ammonia, and minerals (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron); and serum calcium and osteocalcin concentrations were measured every 24 wk. Urinary pyridinoline (PYR) and deoxypyridinoline (DPD), and urinary calcium excretion were measured every 12 wk. Significant effects of oligosaccharide treatment, time, and the interaction between oligosaccharide treatment and time were observed for fecal pH, SCFA, ammonia, and putrefactive product values ( p Ͻ 0.05). Fecal pH, ammonia, and putrefactive product values decreased in the LS group, and the fecal SCFA concentration significantly increased during the administration period; these changes were not observed 4 wk post-administration. To examine the mineral balance of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus in detail, all the participants completed a 6-d mineral balance study, sometime between week 56 and 60 of the longer study. During the mineral balance study, the daily calcium intake was set at 400 mg; all feces and urine were collected each day for 6 d after an 8-d acclimation period. In the balance study, fecal calcium excretion was significantly lower in the LS group than in the placebo group ( p Ͻ 0.05), and apparent calcium absorption and retention, apparent magnesium and phosphorus absorption, and magnesium retention were significantly higher in the LS group than in the placebo group ( p Ͻ 0.05). Our results suggest that the administration of LS produces a long-term enhancement of intestinal calcium absorption in healthy young women with lower than recommended calcium intakes. Key Words fecal pH, fecal short-chain fatty acids, intestinal calcium absorption, lactosucrose, young healthy women Calcium is an essential component of bone, and insufficient calcium intake may cause weakened bones, especially in women who are prone to osteoporosis. Bone mass in later life depends on the peak bone mass (PBM) achieved during growth and the rate of subsequent age-related bone loss ( 1 ). Bone mineral is laid down throughout childhood, with the most rapid increase occurring during puberty. The deposition continues, though at a slower rate, after growth in height has stopped ( 2 ). PBM is achieved in early adult life (20-35 y of age), although the exact timing is not certain and may vary in different parts of the skeleton ( 3 ). The calcium intake in young Japanese women is lower than the recommended calcium intake ( 4 -6 ). Thus, these women are at risk of future osteoporosis resulting from insufficient calciu...

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“…However, studies done in lactose-tolerant healthy adults did not show an effect of lactose on intestinal Ca absorption by using a stable strontium test under controlled metabolic conditions [88]. Lately, the use of lactosucrose in humans and animals seems to be very important in order to increase intestinal Ca 2+ absorption due to the fact that it promotes a decrease in intestinal pH increasing the solubility of Ca 2+ salts [89, 90]. Data regarding protein intake and intestinal Ca 2+ absorption indicate that dietary protein does not alter the intestinal Ca 2+ absorption and, hence, intestinal calcium absorption does not explain hypercalciuria induced by high protein intake [91].…”