Influence of short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (sc-FOS) on absorption of Cu, Zn, and Se in healthy postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of short-chain fructooligosaccharides (sc-FOS) on the absorption of Cu, Zn, and Se among postmenopausal women who are potential candidates to subclinical trace element deficiencies.


METHODS
A randomized double blind cross-over study.


METHODS
This study was carried out at the Human Nutrition Research Center, Clermont-Ferrand, France.


METHODS
11 postmenopausal women aged 53-70 y, not taking hormone replacement therapy were enrolled and completed the study.


METHODS
Diets with 10 g/day sc-FOS or placebo were given for 5 weeks each in random order followed by a wash-out period of at least 3 weeks. At the end of each period, stable isotopes (3.19 mg 67Zn as ZnCl2, 2.06 mg 65Cu as CuCl2 and 52.3 microg 74Se as sodium selenite) and radiopaque pellets (as fecal excretion index) were administered during lunch. Stools were collected for the next 5-7 days. Isotopes were determined by ICP-MS (Cu and Zn) or GC-MS (Se).


RESULTS
Copper absorption was significantly enhanced (p = 0.042) by sc-FOS. No effect of sc-FOS was observed on Zn, and Se absorption.


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, this is the first study on the influence of sc-FOS on trace element metabolism. The observed increase in copper absorption may be of interest regarding daily copper requirements in menopausal women. However, the relevance of this observation remains to be established.
Ducros
Véronique
V
Laboratoire Nutrition, Vieillissement et Maladies Cardiovasculaires, Université Joseph Fourier, Domaine de la Merci, 38700 La Tronche, France. VDucros@chu-grenoble.fr
Arnaud
Josiane
J
Tahiri
Maha
M
Coudray
Charles
C
Bornet
Francis
F
Bouteloup-Demange
Corinne
C
Brouns
Fred
F
Rayssiguier
Yves
Y
Roussel
Anne Marie
AM
D000368:Aged; D001682:Biological Availability; D003300:Copper / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D007553:Isotope Labeling; D008875:Middle Aged; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000378:metabolism*; D012643:Selenium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D015032:Zinc / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
D009844:Oligosaccharides; C116580:fructooligosaccharide; D003300:Copper; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc