The Effect of Water-Soluble Calcium Supplements on Calcium Metabolism and Bone Metabolism of Growing Rats

Abstract

Within the elderly population, the use of calcium supplements and the intake of calcium from food are on the rise in order to maintain health. Calcium is absorbed as an ion in vivo, leading to speculation that absorption efficiency is affected by the solubility of the calcium consumed. In our study, the bioavailability of two types of calcium supplements with different solubilities was evaluated. Experimental animals were fed water-soluble or insoluble calcium supplements for 6 weeks. We found that blood alkali phosphatase activity, osteocalcin content, and urine crosslinks values were not different between the groups. Similarly, the degree of apparent calcium absorption between the two calcium supplements was not significantly different. The bone mineral density and bone mineral content of the femur and the tibia increased in the group that consumed insoluble calcium compared with those of the water-soluble calcium supplemented group. However, when considering body weight, the bone mineral density value for all areas, including the spine, was significantly higher in the group that consumed the water-soluble calcium supplement.