Fecal Ca Research Articles

Improvement of calcium balance byFructus Ligustri Lucidiextract in mature female rats was associated with the induction of serum parathyroid hormone levels

Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL) is a commonly prescribed herb in many kidney-tonifying Traditional Chinese Medicinal formulae for the treatment of osteoporosis. The present study aimed to identify the active fractions in FLL and to characterise its effects on Ca balance, calciotropic hormone levels as well as bone properties in mature female rats fed diets containing different levels of Ca. In the present study, 4-month-old Sprague-Dawley female rats were treated with either FLL ethanol extract (EE), ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of EE (EAF), water-soluble fraction of EE (WF) or their vehicle for 12 weeks on a medium-Ca diet (MCD, 0·6 % Ca, 0·65 % P). Then, the Sprague-Dawley female rats treated with WF or its vehicle for 12 weeks were fed diets containing different levels of dietary Ca (low-Ca diet (LCD), 0·1 % Ca, 0·65 % P; MCD; high-Ca diet (HCD), 1·2 % Ca, 0·65 % P). The results demonstrated that WF from EE but not EAF exerted a prominent effect on Ca balance by inhibiting urinary and faecal Ca excretion. WF significantly increased Ca balance in rats fed MCD or HCD with an associated increase in serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. WF did not alter bone mineral density or bone mineral content of the tibia in all the rats fed with different levels of dietary Ca. In conclusion, WF was responsible for the positive actions of FLL on Ca absorption and balance. The regulation of Ca balance by WF might involve its action in stimulating PTH production in the mature female rats.

Liquid scintillation based quantitative measurement of dual radioisotopes (3H and 45Ca) in biological samples for bone remodeling studies.

Acute and prolonged bone complications associated with radiation and chemotherapy in cancer survivors underscore the importance of establishing a laboratory-based complementary dual-isotope tool to evaluate short- as well as long-term bone remodeling in an in vivo model. To address this need, a liquid scintillation dual-label method was investigated using different scintillation cocktails for quantitative measurement of (3)H-tetracycline ((3)H-TC) and (45)Ca as markers of bone turnover in mice. Individual samples were prepared over a wide range of known (45)Ca/(3)H activity ratios. Results showed that (45)Ca/(3)H activity ratios determined experimentally by the dual-label method were comparable to the known activity ratios (percentage difference ∼2%), but large variations were found in samples with (45)Ca/(3)H activity ratios in range of 2-10 (percentage difference ∼20-30%). Urine and fecal samples from mice administered with both (3)H-TC and (45)Ca were analyzed with the dual-label method. Positive correlations between (3)H and (45)Ca in urine (R=0.93) and feces (R=0.83) indicate that (3)H-TC and (45)Ca can be interchangeably used to monitor longitudinal in vivo skeletal remodeling.

A dairy product fermented by lactobacilli cancels the adverse effects of hypochlorhydria induced by a proton pump inhibitor on bone metabolism in growing rats

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effects of hypochlorhydria induced by proton pump inhibitor (PPI) administration and intake of a dairy product fermented by lactobacilli (DFL) on bone metabolism in growing rats. Male rats, aged 3 weeks, were divided into two groups: a control group fed a casein-based diet and a group fed a DFL-based diet. Each group was fed its respective experimental diets for 9 d. At day 5 of the feeding period, each group was divided into two subgroups: one that received a saline injection and one that received a PPI injection. Rats were subcutaneously administered saline or PPI for 5 d. Faecal Ca excretion was determined from day 6 to day 9. At the end of the experiment, plasma and femurs were collected. Administration of PPI significantly decreased bone mineral density (shown by X-ray computerised tomography) and bone strength (shown by a three-point bending test) in the control group. Plasma osteocalcin, type I collagen C-telopeptides, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone concentrations were elevated by PPI administration in the control group. Faecal Ca excretion and urinary P excretion in the control group were remarkably increased by PPI administration. On the other hand, these adverse effects of PPI were not observed in the DFL group. These results suggest that hypochlorhydria-induced bone loss may result from high bone turnover induced by secondary hyperparathyroidism due to Ca malabsorption and that DFL intake cancels these adverse effects probably via improving Ca malabsorption in growing rats.

Effect of Calcium Carbonate Particle Size on Calcium Absorption and Retention in Adolescent Girls

Objective: Increasing calcium bioavailability by decreasing calcium salt particle size in the supplement may be one way to increase calcium absorption. The aim of the study was to compare (1) large versus small particle size CaCO3 supplements and (2) small particle size CaCO3 supplement versus placebo on calcium absorption and retention in adolescent girls.Methods: Thirty-one adolescent girls, aged 11 to 14 years, participated in two 3-week calcium balance periods separated by a 1-week washout period. During both balance periods, the subjects consumed a controlled diet containing 804 mg/d calcium. Using a crossover design, one group (n = 19) received an additional ∼600 mg/d calcium of two ∼300-mg calcium doses as either large particle (18 μm; i.e., standard commercial form) or small particle (13.5 μm) CaCO3. A second group (n = 12) received ∼600 mg/d calcium from small-particle CaCO3 or placebo.Results: The parathyroid hormone suppression curve, following a challenge, from the first arm of the study indicated that calcium absorption from the small particle size CaCO3 was less than that from the large particle size CaCO3. The parathyroid hormone suppression curve from the small particle versus placebo arm indicated that calcium absorption from small particle size CaCO3 was greater than placebo. Calcium balance (Ca intake – [urine Ca + fecal Ca]) demonstrated that the small particle size CaCO3 supplement increased Ca retention nearly 2-fold compared with placebo (p < 0.05; 496 ± 213 and 256 ± 94 mg/d, respectively). However, there was no significant difference in Ca retention due to small versus large particle size of CaCO3 (p > 0.05; 349.1 ± 131.6 and 322.0 ± 194.2 mg/d, respectively).Conclusions: Dietary supplementation with CaCO3 is effective in increasing calcium absorption and retention compared with placebo. But there is no advantage of small compared with large particle size CaCO3 on calcium absorption and retention.

Effects of a Low Calcium Diet and Oxalate Intake on Calcium Deposits in Soft Tissues and Bone Metabolism in Ovariectomized Rats

It is controversial whether low calcium intake, commonly associated with osteoporosis, results in calcium accumulation in soft tissues. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of low calcium (Ca) and oxalate (ox) intake on soft-tissue Ca deposits and bone metabolism in ovariectomized (ovx) rats. Eight week old female Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized and divided into four groups. The rats were fed experimental diets containing low (0.1%, w/w) or normal (0.5%, w/w) Ca with or without sodium oxalate (1%, w/w); Sham/NCa, Ovx/NCa, Ovx/LCa, Ovx/NCa-ox, Ovx/LCa-ox for 6 weeks. All ovx rats showed a remarkable increase in body and tissue weight, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, blood urea nitrogen, alkaline phosphatase, and decreases in weight, ash, and Ca contents, as well as bone breaking force compared to those in sham rats. Serum Ca concentration was not significantly affected by dietary Ca levels or ox intake. Kidney Ca, ox acid content, and microscopic Ca deposition increased remarkably in the Ovx/LCa-ox group compared to those in the other groups. Ca content in the spleen and aorta also increased significantly, but the weight contents, Ca, bone breaking force, and Ca and oxalic acid in feces decreased significantly in the Ovx/LCa-ox group. Serum parathyroid hormone levels were not significantly different among the groups. These results indicate that low Ca intake decreased bone mineral content and increased Ca deposits in soft tissues, which was aggravated by ox intake in ovx rats. Thus, high ox intake may result in a kidney disorder in patients with osteoporosis who eat a low Ca diet.

Muscle Calcium Metabolic Effects of Hypokinesia in Physically Healthy Subjects

The incompleteness of electrolyte deposition during hypokinesia (HK; diminished movement) is the defining factor of electrolyte metabolic changes, yet the effect of prolonged HK upon electrolyte deposition is poorly understood. The objective of this investigation was to determine the effect of muscle calcium (Ca(++)) changes upon Ca(++) losses during prolonged HK. Studies were conducted on 20 physically healthy male volunteers during a pre-experimental period of 30 days and an experimental period of 364 days. Subjects were equally divided in two groups: control subjects (CS) and experimental subjects (ES). The CS group ran average distances of 9.2 ± 1.2 km day(-l), and the ES group walked average distances of 2.3 ± 0.2 km day(-l). Muscle Ca(++) contents, plasma Ca(++) concentrations, and Ca(++) losses in urine and feces were measured in the experimental and control groups of subjects. The muscle Ca(++) contents decreased (p < 0.05), and plasma Ca(++) levels and Ca(++) losses in the urine and feces increased (p < 0.05) in the ES group compared with their pre-experimental levels and the values in their respective CS group. Muscle Ca(++) contents and plasma Ca(++) levels and urinary and fecal Ca(++) losses did not change in the CS group compared to their pre-experimental levels. It is concluded that prolonged HK increase plasma Ca(++) concentrations and Ca(++) losses in Ca(++) deficient muscle indicating decreased Ca(++) deposition.

The impact of physical exercise on calcium balance in healthy subjects during prolonged hypokinesia

Objective To determine whether during hypokinesia (diminished movement) periodic physical exercise affects calcium (Ca 2+) balance and Ca 2+ loss. Methods Studies were conducted on 30 physically healthy male volunteers during the preexperimental period of 30 days and the experimental period of 364 days. They were equally divided into three groups: active control subjects (ACS), hypokinetic subjects (HKS), and periodic training subjects (PTS). The ACS group ran an average distance of 9.3 ± 1.2 km/d; the HKS group walked an average distance of 1.3 ± 0.2 km/d; and PTS group walked and ran average distances of 1.3 ± 0.2 km/d and 9.2 ± 1.2 km/d for 5 and 2 days per week, respectively. Results Serum Ca 2+ level, fecal and urine Ca 2+ loss, and Ca 2+ imbalance increased ( P < 0.05) in the PTS and HKS groups compared with their preexperimental levels and the values in their respective ACS group. The serum Ca 2+ concentration, urine and fecal Ca 2+ loss, and Ca 2+ imbalance increased more ( P < 0.05) in the PTS group than in the HKS group. Conclusion During hypokinesia, Ca 2+ imbalance is more evident with than without physical exercise and Ca 2+ loss is exacerbated more with higher than lower Ca 2+ imbalance.

The importance of dietary calcium consumption in two species of semi-terrestrial grapsoid crabs

Calcium (Ca) is essential for crustaceans, due to calcium carbonate (CaCO3) deposition in the new exoskeleton to harden it. The purpose of this work was to study short term Ca balance in terms of dietary Ca ingestion in two phylogenetically related crabs (Superfamily Grapsoidea) showing different degrees of terrestrial adaptations: Sesarma rectum Randall, 1840 and Neohelice granulata (Dana, 1851). Dietary Ca ingestion was studied using purified diets with different Ca concentrations (0, 2.2 and 6.66 % Ca), together with measurements of Ca excretion and Ca hemolymph levels. The results showed that both crabs had the same response to foods containing different levels of Ca, with both species eating more of the high Ca diet. However, S. rectum consumed more per mg body mass at all Ca concentrations (6 mg.g-1 for S. rectum against 3 mg.g-1 for N. granulata). Both species excreted/egested Ca differently: S. rectum excreted Ca proportionally to ingestion, whereas N. granulata maintained constant faecal Ca output at all dietary Ca levels. Moreover, Ca hemolymph levels for crabs fed the different diets were independent of dietary Ca. In conclusion, both S. rectum and N. granulata seem to regulate the consumption of diets containing more Ca, which suggests a fine balance for Ca intake.

Effect of Nano-Calcium-Enriched Milk on Calcium Metabolism in Ovariectomized Rats

This study was designed to examine the effect of different kinds of calcium enrichment on serum and urine indices of mineral status in ovariectomized rats. Twenty-four 7-week-old Sprague-Dawley female rats were divided into four groups, ovariectomized, and fed diets containing the following: (1) Control, non-Ca-enriched milk; (2) OVX1, calcium carbonate-enriched milk; (3) OVX2, ionized Ca-enriched milk; and (4) OVX3, nano-Ca-enriched milk. After 18 weeks of feeding, the food efficiency ratio in the nano-Ca-fed group was significantly lower compared with those in the Control and OVX2 groups. There was no difference in serum and fecal Ca among the groups. The bone/total alkaline phosphatase ratio was significantly higher in rats fed milk enriched with nano-Ca (59%) and calcium carbonate (62%) than in control (44%) animals. Urinary Ca was the highest in the nano-Ca-enriched group; however, urinary excretions of deoxypyridinoline and hydroxyproline were significantly decreased in the nano-Ca-enriched group. The present results indicate that consumption of nano-Ca-enriched milk resulted in an increase of urinary excretion of calcium and a decrease in deoxypyridinoline and hydroxyproline in ovariectomized rats.

Effect of Hypokinesia on Calcium Loss in Calcium-supplemented and -unsupplemented Rats

We undertook this study to determine total calcium (Ca(2+)) loss in Ca(2+)-deficient tissue and tissue Ca(2+) loss with and without Ca(2+) supplementation during hypokinesia (HK; diminished movement). Studies were conducted on 240 male Wistar rats during a pre-experimental period of 9 days and an experimental period of 98 days. Rats were equally divided into four groups: unsupplemented vivarium control rats (UVCR), unsupplemented hypokinetic rats (UHKR), supplemented vivarium control rats (SVCR), and supplemented hypokinetic rats (SHKR). Calcium supplementation of 2.6 mmol was given to animals in the SVCR and SHKR groups. Gastrocnemius muscle and right femur bone Ca(2+) level reduced (p <0.05) and plasma Ca(2+) level, and urine and fecal Ca(2+) loss increased (p <0.05) in the SHKR and UHKR groups compared to their pre-experimental values and the values in their respective vivarium control groups (SVCR and UVCR). Muscle and bone Ca(2+) content decreased more (p <0.05), while plasma Ca(2+) level, and urine and fecal Ca(2+) loss increased more (p <0.05) in the SHKR group than in the UHKR group. Tissue Ca(2+) deficiency during HK is more evident with than without Ca(2+) supplementation and Ca(2+) loss was exacerbated with higher than lower tissue Ca(2+) deficiency. This shows that tissue Ca(2+) deficiency does not result from the lower Ca(2+) content in the food consumed and the total bodily Ca(2+) loss is not caused by the higher tissue Ca(2+) content but due to the impossibility of the body to use Ca(2+) during prolonged HK.

The effect of increased dietary calcium on fecal fat excretion in overweight and obese adolescents

This study was designed to measure the effect of calcium supplementation from a dairy vs. calcium carbonate source on fecal fat excretion in overweight and obese adolescent boys and girls. Twenty girls (BMI 34+/−5 kg/m2) and fourteen boys (BMI 28 +/−5 kg/m2), aged 12–15 y, participated in two 3 week controlled feeding trials separated by a 3‐week washout period. Total dietary intakes during both sessions were eucaloric and macronutrient matched for energy needs. Intake included a basal diet containing 759 mg Ca/d plus frozen products based on soy protein with no added Ca (control) or the basal diet plus frozen products based on either dairy or soy protein containing added Ca (714 mg/d) in a cross‐over design. All urine and feces were collected during each session. Twenty‐four h diet and fecal samples were analyzed for Ca by inductively coupled plasma spectrophotometry. Crude fat of dried diet and feces was extracted using an automated Soxhlet type system. Fractional fecal fat was not influenced by increased Ca intake from dairy or CaCO3. However, pooled data indicated that fractional fecal fat excretion was positively related to fecal Ca excretion.Supported by NIH DK066108, National Dairy Council and test products were a gift from The Schwan Food Company.

Effect of low doses of Aspergillus niger phytase on growth performance, bone strength, and nutrient absorption and excretion by growing and finishing swine fed corn-soybean meal diets deficient in available phosphorus and calcium1

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of low doses of Aspergillus niger (AN) phytase for growing and finishing pigs fed corn-soybean meal (SBM) diets with narrow Ca:P ratios that were about 0.9 g/kg deficient in available P and Ca. Experiment 1 utilized 120 pigs with an early finisher period from 51.5 +/- 0.2 to 89.7 +/- 0.9 kg of BW and a late finisher period that ended at 122.5 +/- 2.0 kg of BW. During each period, treatments were the low-P diets with 0, 150, 300, or 450 units (U) of AN phytase added/kg of diet, and a positive control (PC) diet. There were linear increases (P < or = 0.001) in bone strength and ash weight, the absorption of P (g/d and %) and Ca (%), and overall ADG (P = 0.01) with increasing concentration of AN phytase. Pigs fed the diets with 150, 300, or 450 U of AN phytase/kg did not differ from pigs fed the PC diet in growth performance overall, and pigs fed the diets with 300 or 450 U of AN phytase did not differ in P and Ca absorption (g/d) or bone ash weight from pigs fed the PC diet. However, only pigs fed the diet with 450 U of AN phytase/kg had bone strength similar to that of pigs fed the PC diet. Experiment 2 utilized 120 pigs in a grower phase from 25.3 +/- 0.1 to 57.8 +/- 0.8 kg of BW and a finisher phase that ended at 107.6 +/- 1.0 kg of BW. Treatments were the low-P diet with AN phytase added at 300, 500, or 700 U/kg of grower diet, and 150, 250, or 350 U/kg of finisher diet, respectively, resulting in treatments AN300/150, AN500/250, and AN700/350. Growth performance and the absorption (g/d) of P and Ca for the grower and finisher phases were not different for pigs fed the diets containing AN phytase and pigs fed the PC diets. However, pigs fed the PC diets excreted more fecal P (g/d, P < or = 0.01) during the grower and more P and Ca (g/d, P < 0.001) during the finisher phases than the pigs fed the diets with phytase. There were linear increases (P < or = 0.05) in bone strength and bone ash weight with increasing concentration of AN phytase. However, pigs fed the PC diets had a greater bone strength and bone ash weight than pigs fed diets AN300/150, AN500/250 (P < or = 0.02), or AN700/350 (P < or = 0.08). There were no treatment responses for N or DM digestibility in either experiment. Phytase supplementation reduced fecal P excretion from 16 to 38% and fecal Ca excretion from 21 to 42% in these experiments. In conclusion, 450 U of AN phytase/kg was effective in replacing 0.9 g of the inorganic P/kg of corn-SBM diet for finishing swine based on bone strength, whereas 300 or 150 U of AN phytase/kg of diet maintained growth performance of grower or finisher pigs, respectively.

Effects of isometric strength training followed by no exercise and Humulus lupulus L–enriched diet on bone metabolism in old female rats

We investigated in female rats the effects on bone metabolism of a prolonged no-training period, subsequent to an isometric exercise program, performed during young adulthood and those of a long-term consumption of Humulus lupulus L–enriched diet (genistein 1.92 and daidzein 1.24 mg/kg diet) combined or not with isometric training. Forty-eight rats (4 weeks old) were randomly divided into 4 groups: trained (C-Tr) or nontrained rats (C-NTr) fed with control diet and trained (H-Tr) or nontrained rats (H-NTr) fed with Humulus lupulus L–enriched diet. The diets lasted 100 weeks. Training was followed over a 25-week period. Bone parameters were measured at week 100. Our results showed that no significant difference was observed among the 4 groups in uterine relative weight, calcium (Ca) intake, fecal Ca, urinary Ca excretion, net Ca absorption, plasma Ca, and bone Ca content. Calcium balance was significantly enhanced in H-NTr rats in comparison with C-NTr and C-Tr rats. Isometric strength training led to a significant increase in total bone mineral density (BMD), diaphyseal BMD, and osteocalcin-deoxypyridinoline ratio in C-Tr rats compared with the other groups. The main findings of the present study indicate that in female rats, a 25-week isometric strength training performed during young adulthood followed by a prolonged no-training period increases BMD values and osteocalcin-deoxypyridinoline ratio, whereas long-term consumption of Humulus lupulus L–enriched diet does not improve bone parameters. It suggests that bone gains induced by exercise do not decrease immediately after cessation of training and also confirms the importance of the practice of physical activity during puberty and young adulthood to maximize the achieved peak bone density.

High-calcium diet with whey protein attenuates body-weight gain in high-fat-fed C57Bl/6J mice

An inverse relationship between Ca intake and BMI has been found in several studies. It has been suggested that Ca affects adipocyte metabolism via suppressing 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25(OH)2-D3) and decreases fat absorption. We studied the effect of Ca and milk proteins (whey and casein) on body weight in C57Bl/6J mice. Male mice, age 9 weeks, were divided into three groups (ten mice per group) receiving modified high-fat (60% of energy) diets. Two groups received a high-Ca diet (1.8% calcium carbonate (CaCO3)), with casein or whey protein (18% of energy), and one group received a low-Ca diet (0.4% CaCO3) with casein for 21 weeks. Food intake was measured daily and body weight twice per week. Body fat content (by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) of all mice and faecal Ca and fat excretion of seven mice/group were measured twice during the study. Final body weight (44.1 (SEM 1.1) g) and body fat content (41.6 (SEM 0.6) %) were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the high-Ca whey group than in the low-Ca casein group (48.1 (SEM 0.8) g and 44.9 (SEM 0.8) %). Body weight and body fat content of the high-Ca casein group did not differ significantly from the low-Ca casein group even though serum 1,25(OH)2-D3 levels were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in both high-Ca groups than in the low-Ca casein group. Thus changes in serum 1,25(OH)2-D3 do not seem to affect body weight in this animal model. There was a significant difference in fat excretion between the high-Ca whey and low-Ca casein groups (3.9 (SEM 0.9) % in the high-Ca whey v. 1.4 (SEM 0.2) % in the low-Ca casein group; P < 0.05), which may partly explain the effect on body weight.

Utilization of distillers dried grains with solubles and phytase in sow lactation diets to meet the phosphorus requirement of the sow and reduce fecal phosphorus concentration1

Two experiments were completed to determine the potential for using distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in diets with or without phytase to provide available P, energy, and protein to highly productive lactating sows without increasing their fecal P. In Exp. 1, the dietary treatments were as follows: (1) corn and soybean meal with 5% beet pulp (BP) or (2) corn and soybean meal with 15% DDGS (DDGS). Besides containing similar amounts of fiber, diets were isonitrogenous (21% CP, 1.2% Lys) and isophosphorus (0.8% P). Sixty-one sows were allotted to dietary treatments at approximately 110 d of gestation (when they were placed in farrowing crates) based on genetics, parity, and date of farrowing. Sows were gradually transitioned to their lactation diet. On d 2 of lactation, litters were cross-fostered to achieve 11 pigs/litter. Sows and litters were weighed on d 2 and 18. Fecal grab samples were collected on d 7, 14, and 18 of lactation. Dietary treatment did not affect the number of pigs weaned (10.9 vs. 10.8) or litter weaning weight. On d 14, DDGS sows had less fecal P concentration than BP sows (28.3 vs. 32.8 mg/g; P = 0.04). Fecal Ca of sows fed DDGS decreased for d 7, 14, and 18 (55.6, 51.4, and 47.1 mg/g of DM, respectively; P = 0.05) but not for BP sows. In Exp. 2, the dietary treatments were as follows: (1) corn and soybean meal (CON), (2) CON + 500 phytase units of Natuphos/kg diet, as fed (CON + PHY), (3) corn and soybean meal with 15% DDGS and no phytase (DDGS), or (4) DDGS + 500 FTU of Natuphos/kg of diet, as fed (DDGS + PHY). Sows (n = 87) were managed as described for Exp 1. Litter BW gain (46.0, 46.3, 42.1, and 42.2 kg; P = 0.25) and sow BW loss (8.1, 7.2, 7.4, and 6.3 kg for CON, CON + PHY, DDGS, and DDGS + PHY, respectively; P = 0.97) were not affected by dietary treatment. Fecal P concentration did not differ among dietary treatments but was reduced at d 14 and 18 compared with d 7 (P = 0.001). However, fecal phytate P concentration was decreased by the addition of DDGS when DDGS and DDGS + PHY were compared with the CON sows except on d 7 (P < 0.05). Sows fed CON diet had greater fecal phytate P than sows fed DDGS, and sows fed DDGS + PHY had less fecal phytate P than sows fed DDGS with no phytase (P = 0.001). Although these experiments were only carried out for 1 lactation, these results indicate that highly productive sows can sustain lactation performance with reduced fecal phytate P when fed DDGS and phytase in lactation diets.

Improvement of Ca balance by Fructus Ligustri Lucidi extract in aged female rats

This study aimed to demonstrate and delineate the mechanism of action of Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL) involved in improving Ca balance in aged female rats. FLL could enhance the apparent Ca absorption rate and reduce Ca excretion, via its actions on modulating the levels of calciotropic hormones and CaBPs expression. Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL) is a herb classically used for the treatment of age-related symptoms in China. The present study aimed to determine if FLL could improve calcium balance in aged female rats and delineate its mechanism of action in vivo. Aged Sprague-Dawley rats (11 months of age) were orally administered with ethanol extract of FLL or its vehicle and fed with diets containing different levels of Ca (low Ca diet, LCD, 0.1% Ca; medium Ca diet, MCD, 0.6% Ca; high Ca diet, HCD, 1.2% Ca) for 12 weeks. Serum, urine and feces were collected for biochemical markers and Ca balance determination. mRNA expressions of calcium binding proteins (CaBPs) were determined by real time RT-PCR. The effects of diets and herb were analyzed by both one-way and two-way ANOVA. FLL significantly reduced fecal Ca excretion and induced apparent Ca absorption rate in rats fed with MCD and HCD. FLL increased serum 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) level and duodenal CaBP-9k mRNA expressions in all rats. Renal CaBP-28k mRNA expressions were induced in rats fed with MCD and HCD upon FLL treatment. Our study demonstrated that FLL improved Ca balance in aged female rats by increasing serum 1,25 (OH)(2)D(3) level and vitamin D-dependent CaBPs expression.

Effect of monensin on mineral balance in growing ruminants reared under different environmental temperatures

To test the effect of monensin on the mineral balance of growing cattle under different environmental temperatures, 24 male steers were assigned in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, contrasting 0 and 85 mg monensin/animal per day at 24.3 and 33.2 °C (environmental temperatures). Monensin effect was directly modulated by the environmental temperature: it increased apparent retentions of P (P=0.066), Na (P=0.005) and K (P=0.003), at the higher temperature and decreased these apparent retentions at the lower temperature, as compared with non-supplemented animals. Monensin increased fecal Ca (P=0.037), and urinary P (P=0.002), Na (P=0.003), K (P=0.014), Mg (P=0.051) and Zn (P=0.091), with higher concentrations of these minerals in animals held at 24.3 °C and lower concentrations in those at 33.2 °C, as compared with non-supplemented animals. Monensin decreased serum Mg (P=0.001) and increased serum Zn (P=0.071) in animals at 33.2 °C and increased serum Mg and decreased serum Zn at 24.3 °C. Irrespective of temperature, monensin increased both apparent absorption (P=0.058) and apparent retention (P=0.093) of P, and also urine Cu (P=0.085). Environmental temperature modulated monensin effects on mineral balance. Monensin increased apparent retention of several minerals in animals under heat stress.

Evaluation of the mineral status of cattle on communal grazing in the North West Province of South Africa

Twenty five cattle were randomly selected from a herd of animals grazing communally around Mogosane village in the North West Province to evaluate their mineral status based on blood and faecal analysis. Mean faecal phosphorus (P) concentration was curvilinear, increasing from July (0.99 mg/g) to December (3.63 mg/g) and decreasing to 1.29 mg/g in June. Mean P concentration in grass was also curvilinear, increasing from July (0.87 mg/g) to January (1.8 mg/g) and decreasing to 0.9 mg/g in June. There was a high correlation (r2 = 0.89) between faecal and grass P concentrations. Faecal:grass P ratios suggest that the animals were conserving P by reducing faecal P excretion during times of low dietary P. Animals maintained consistent but very low serum inorganic P (SiP) throughout the year (range 1.33-1.95 mg%) and SiP was not correlated with either faecal or grass P. Mean faecal and grass calcium (Ca) concentrations followed a similar pattern to P. There was also a positive correlation (r2 = 0.95) between grass and faecal Ca concentrations. Faecal:grass Ca ratios indicated a conservation of Ca by reducing faecal Ca when dietary Ca was low. Animals were better able to conserve dietary Ca by reducing losses in the faeces than they were P, based on a higher faecal:grass P ratio (1.56) compared with Ca (1.18). Magnesium (Mg) was lost through the faeces during times of high dietary Mg concentrations but was conserved when grass Mg was low.

γ-PGA(Poly-γ-glutamic acid) 보충이 흰쥐의 칼슘 흡수율 및 골대사에 미치는 영향

칼슘은 한국인에게 가장 부족되기 쉬운 영양소로 섭취만큼이나 흡수가 중요한 요인이 되는 미네랄이다. 최근 칼슘흡수 증진에 효과가 있는 소재로 주목받고 있는 폴리감마글루 탐산(γ-PGA; poly-γ-glutamic acid)이 체내 칼슘흡수에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위해 4주령된 수컷 흰쥐(Sprague Dawley female rats)를 이용하여 3주간 칼슘결핍식이를 급여시켜 칼슘결핍을 유도 후에, γ-PGA 보충식이를 4주간 급여하였다. 실험군은 칼슘결핍군(Ca free group), 칼슘보충군(칼슘1.2% 보충군, total Ca 0.45%), 칼슘과 CPP1% 보충군(칼슘1.2%＋CPP1% 보충군), 칼슘과 PGA1% 보충군(칼슘1.2%＋γ-PGA1% 보충군), 칼슘과 CP1%＋PGA1% 보충군(칼슘1.2%＋CPP1%＋γ-PGA1% 보충군), 칼슘과 PGA3% 보충군(칼슘1.2%＋γ-PGA3% 보충군)으로 구분하였다. 이때 γ-PGA의 효과를 검증하기 위해 γ-PGA와 칼슘흡수 기전이 유사하고 이미 효능이 알려져 있는 casein phosphopeptide 보충군을 실험군에 추가하였다. 식이섭취량은 칼슘결핍군이 다소 낮았으나 유의적인 차이는 없었으며 칼슘섭취량도 유의적 차이 없이 비슷한 수준을 보였다. 변 및 뇨중 칼슘 배설량은 칼슘만을 섭취한 대조군에 비해 γ-PGA보충군에서 유의적으로 낮았다(p＜0.05). 칼슘흡수율 또한 그룹간의 유의적 차이를 보여 칼슘만을 섭취한 그룹에 비해 γ-PGA를 함께 보충한 그룹의 흡수율이 30% 더 높은 경향을 보였으며 이는 이미 효능이 알려진 CPP보다 우수한 수준이었다. 골형성 지표인 혈중 ALP를 측정한 결과 대조군에 비해 γ-PGA보충군이 유의적으로(p＜0.05) 낮았고, 혈중 칼슘농도는 항상성을 유지하며 그룹간의 유의적 차이 없이 비슷한 수준을 보였으며, OHPr/Cre도 유의적 차이는 없었다. 뼈 중 칼슘함량 및 강도는 칼슘결핍군이 나머지군에 비해 유의하게(p＜0.05) 낮았으며, 칼슘함량의 경우 칼슘만을 보충한 그룹에 비해 γ-PGA를 함께 보충한 그룹이 농도 의존적으로 높은 칼슘함량을 보였고(p＜0.05), 골강도의 경우는 유의적 차이는 없었으나 γ-PGA를 함께 보충한 그룹이 농도 의존적으로 골강도가 높은 경향을 나타내었다. 결론적으로 칼슘결핍을 유발한 흰쥐에 칼슘만을 보충시켰을 때보다 칼슘과 함께 γ-PGA를 함께 보충했을 경우, 칼슘흡수 증진 및 골대사에 긍정적으로 기여함을 확인할 수 있었다. 그러나 좀 더 명확한 효과 검증을 위해서는 차후 많은 개체수와 장기간의 식이를 통한 반복실험, γ-PGA 섭취수준에 따른 추가실험이 진행되어야 할 것으로 생각된다.

Effect of phytase supplementation with two levels of phosphorus diets on ileal and faecal digestibilities of nutrients and phosphorus, calcium, nitrogen and energy balances in growing pigs

AbstractThe experiment was conducted to assess the effects of phytase supplementation to diets with two levels of phosphorus (P) on ileal and faecal digestibility of nutrients and phosphorus, calcium, nitrogen and energy balances in growing pigs. Fifteen Landrace × Large White × Chinese Black barrows, with an initial live weight of 22·2 kg fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum, were randomly allocated to one of the five diet treatments, according to a of cross-over design with two periods. The basal diet was typical of southern Asia with maize/rice and rapeseed/cottonseed meals. A normal (NP, supplemented with 4·8 g/kg of CaHPO4) and a low-P diet (LP, not supplemented with CaHPO4) were formulated. Both of the diets were supplemented with and without Natuphos® Phytase (500 phytase units (FTU) per kg diet). An enzyme hydrolysed casein (EHC) diet (diet 5) was also formulated to determine the flow of the ileal endogenous amino acids (AA). The results showed that both the higher level P treatment and phytase supplementation increased (P &lt; 0·05) the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP) and energy. Phytase supplementation also increased (P &lt; 0·05) the AID of Ca and P. Pigs given the higher level of P or the phytase diet increased apparent faecal digestibility (AFD) of DM, OM and energy. Phytase supplementation reduced (P &lt; 0·01) faecal Ca output and increased (P &lt; 0·05) proportional Ca retention. The higher level of P increased (P &lt; 0·001) total P intake and P retention (P &lt; 0·05) but did not affect the proportion of P retained (P &gt; 0·05). Phytase supplementation did not affect P balance (P &gt; 0·05). Pigs given the higher level P or the phytase diet had reduced (P &lt; 0·05) faecal energy concentration, although there was no affect on urine energy output, digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME). However, there were P × phytase effects on DE and ME (P &lt; 0·05). There were no P × phytase effects (P &gt; 0·05) on AID of AA except with isoleucine (P &lt; 0·01). Phytase supplementation increased (P &lt; 0·05) AID of histidine, isoleucine, threonine and glutamine and there was a numeric increase in AID for most of the other AA. There was P × phytase effect on AFD of histidine (P &lt; 0·05), isoleucine (P &lt; 0·05), methionine (P &lt; 0·05) and threonine (P &lt; 0·01). Phytase supplementation increased the AFD of isoleucine (P &lt; 0·05), threonine (P &lt; 0·01) and tended to increase AFD of tyrosine (P &lt; 0·05). The level of MCP affected the AFD of lysine (P &lt; 0·01), threonine (P &lt; 0·05), aspartic acid (P &lt; 0·05). Phytase supplementation increased true ileal digestibility of histidine (P &lt; 0·05), isoleucine (P &lt; 0·001), threonine (P = 0·001), glutamine (P &lt; 0·01), respectively. These results indicate that phytase used in the present study was able to improve the utilization of DM, OM, CP, Ca, P, energy and amino acid in a maize/rice and rapeseed/cottonseed meal based diet and reduce total output of them in manure.