title: Short-term polycose substitution for lactose reduces calcium absorption in healthy term babies.
abstract: A vitamin D-independent paracellular and not saturable mechanism important for intestinal calcium absorption turned out to be less effective in lactose-free diets. Twelve normal term babies with identical repletion levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25D) were fed sequentially with starting formulas that differed only in their carbohydrate sources: lactose (control) and polycose. A 3-day test was performed after a 1-week adjustment to the new diet. Fecal excretion of calcium was significantly higher in the lactose-free formula period compared to the control one: 56.6 (13.9) versus 39.6 (12.8) mg/kg/day (p less than 0.02); subsequently, the net retention was considerably higher and statistically significant (p less than 0.01) for the control period versus the lactose-free formula period: 99.4 (15.3) versus 78.1 (14.3). Plasma 25D values were 21.8 (9.1) and 23.7 (7.1) ng/ml at the beginning of the lactose and polycose periods, respectively, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin-D values were 64 (62) and 75 (45) pg/ml, not significant. Results suggest that formulas containing polycose as the sole carbohydrate source may reduce the intestinal absorption of calcium in term newborns, but determining long-term biological significance requires further observation.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine/Hospital Provincial, Universidad de Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moya
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cortes
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Ballester
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vento
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Juste
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005936:Glucans / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007225:Infant Food; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D007785:Lactose / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D013997:Time Factors; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D005936:Glucans; D010710:Phosphates; D014807:Vitamin D; D008274:Magnesium; D007785:Lactose; D002118:Calcium