Effect of short-chain fructooligosaccharides on intestinal calcium absorption and calcium status in postmenopausal women: a stable-isotope study.
BACKGROUND
An enhancing effect of short-chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOSs) on intestinal calcium absorption has been shown in animals and in some short-term human studies. However, the long-term effect of scFOSs on calcium absorption in humans is still unknown.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated the long-term effect of a moderate daily dose (10 g) of scFOSs on intestinal calcium absorption in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
In a randomized, double-blind crossover protocol, 12 healthy, postmenopausal women received scFOSs or placebo for 5 wk. The treatments were separated by a 3-wk washout period. Subjects orally received (44)Ca (stable isotope) and a fecal marker. Feces were collected after the isotope intake for 5-7 d to measure unabsorbed isotope. Calcium-status indexes, calciotropic hormones, and bone turnover were also assessed.


RESULTS
Mean (+/-SD) intestinal calcium absorption with scFOS treatment was not significantly different from that with placebo treatment (35.63 +/- 9.40% and 36.55 +/- 8.48%, respectively). However, a tendency for calcium absorption to be higher with scFOS treatment than with placebo treatment was observed in women who had been going through menopause for >6 y.


CONCLUSIONS
scFOSs do not modify intestinal calcium absorption in postmenopausal women who do not receive hormonal replacement therapy. The results from a subgroup of women who had been going through menopause for >6 y (n = 6) suggest that scFOSs may influence calcium absorption in the late postmenopausal phase. The small number of subjects and the related P value warrant verification and further investigation with women in late menopause only.
Tahiri
Maha
M
Centre de Recherche en Nutrition Humaine d'Auvergne, Unité Maladies Métaboliques et Micronutriments, Centre de Recherche INRA Clermont-Ferrand/Theix, Saint Genès Champanelle, France.
Tressol
Jean C
JC
Arnaud
Josiane
J
Bornet
Francis R J
FR
Bouteloup-Demange
Corinne
C
Feillet-Coudray
Christine
C
Brandolini
Marion
M
Ducros
Véronique
V
Pépin
Denise
D
Brouns
Fred
F
Roussel
Anne M
AM
Rayssiguier
Yves
Y
Coudray
Charles
C
D000368:Aged; D001682:Biological Availability; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000652:urine; D002127:Calcium Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D002127:Calcium Isotopes; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D009844:Oligosaccharides; C116580:fructooligosaccharide; D002118:Calcium