title: Comparison of the effect of medium-chain and long-chain triacylglycerols on calcium absorption in healthy subjects.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University Hospital, Geneva.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Griessen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ammann
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Selz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bartholdi
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Arnaud
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bonjour
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blanchard
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; D002118:Calcium