title: Changes in calcium status in aged rats fed Lactobacillus GG and Bifidobacterium lactis and oligofructose-enriched inulin.
abstract: In this study we hypothesized that an increase in numbers of beneficial bacteria in the large intestine can affect calcium (Ca) status in the elderly. Adult and aged rats were fed a diet with or without synbiotics for 21 days. Synbiotics increased the numbers of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in large intestine in both adult and aged rats. The plasma Ca concentration was significantly increased while osteocalcin concentration was significantly decreased only in aged rats fed synbiotics.
authors.affiliation: University of Ulster, Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, Coleraine Co., Londonderry BT52 1SA, UK. v.naughton@ulster.ac.uk
authors.forename: Violetta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Naughton
authors.forename: Emeir
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McSorley
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Naughton
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001644:Bifidobacterium; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D004032:Diet; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000382:microbiology; D007444:Inulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007778:Lactobacillus; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D010865:Pilot Projects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D058616:Synbiotics
chemical_list: D009844:Oligosaccharides; C120489:oligofructose; D015675:Osteocalcin; D007444:Inulin; D002118:Calcium