title: Calcium carbonate treatment of diarrhoea in intestinal bypass patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of supplemental calcium carbonate on faecal water, calcium, bile acid and lipid concentration and output in intestinal bypass subjects with diarrhoea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, single-arm treatment trial of oral calcium carbonate, 2400 or 3600 mg Ca2+ per day, given for 12 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Faecal constituents were determined in wet or lyophilized stool of 24-h collections at baseline and at 12 weeks of study. Calcium was measured by absorption spectrophotometry. Bile acids, long-chain fatty acids and short-chain fatty acids were analysed by gas chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 15 subjects, calcium supplementation reduced bowel frequency by a mean of 49%, faecal wet weight by a mean of 50% (1292 to 646 g per day), and dry weight by a mean of 36%, P < 0.001. Faecal water concentration was reduced from 76.4 +/- 1% to 70.2 +/- 2%, P < 0.01. Faecal water concentration was inversely correlated with dry faecal calcium concentration (r = -0.75 P = 0.00001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Calcium reduces the diarrhoea of intestinal bypass patients. It is suggested that the constipating effect of calcium may be related to reduction in faecal water.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St Luke's/Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Steinbach
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lupton
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Kral
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Holt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005243:Feces; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007581:Jejunoileal Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002119:Calcium Carbonate