Comparison of the effect of medium-chain and long-chain triacylglycerols on calcium absorption in healthy subjects.
BACKGROUND
The absorption efficiency of calcium in humans is low. Some studies in infants have shown that calcium absorption can be increased by adding medium-chain triacylglycerols to the formula diet.


OBJECTIVE
The effect of medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols on calcium absorption was studied in 18 healthy, young men. The results were compared with data obtained from calcium ingestion of a protein-carbohydrate formula devoid of triacylglycerols.


METHODS
Calcium absorption was measured by using a double-isotope technique and the kinetic parameters were obtained by using a deconvolution method.


RESULTS
The total fractional calcium absorption measured in the presence of medium-chain triacylglycerols (0.236 +/- 0.016) or from a protein-carbohydrate formula without triacylglycerols (0.235 +/- 0.012) was not significantly different. The same result was observed with long-chain triacylglycerols (0.309 +/- 0.026) and the protein-carbohydrate formula (0.275 +/- 0.012). No kinetic parameters were significantly different regardless of the diet (protein-carbohydrate, medium-chain triacylglycerol, or long-chain triacylglycerol). This suggests that the same mechanism for calcium absorption was operative.


CONCLUSIONS
Triacylglycerols had no direct effect on calcium absorption from a protein-carbohydrate formula in healthy subjects. These data do not support the use of medium-chain triacylglycerols as adjuvants to increase the absorption of calcium in healthy adults.
Griessen
M
M
Department of Medicine, University Hospital, Geneva.
Ammann
P
P
Selz
L
L
Bartholdi
P
P
Arnaud
M J
MJ
Bonjour
J P
JP
Blanchard
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002118:Calcium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005526:Food, Formulated; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014280:Triglycerides; D002118:Calcium