title: The in vitro digestibility and absorption of magnesium in some edible seaweeds.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many edible seaweeds are rich in magnesium (Mg). However, Mg absorption is low in some seaweeds because fibers in these seaweeds suppress Mg absorption. We hypothesize that Mg absorption from some other seaweeds is not low because of the diversity of fibers. We measured Mg concentration and Mg solubility after in vitro digestion in edible seaweeds, Aosa (Ulvaceae pertusa), Kombu (Laminaria japonica) and Funori (Gloiopeltis furcata). Then we determined Mg absorption in rats given diets containing these seaweeds or magnesium oxide as the major source of Mg, and calculated Mg absorption from seaweeds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The fractional apparent absorption of Mg in seaweeds was Kombu = magnesium oxide > Aosa = Funori. Mg concentration was Aosa > Kombu and Funori had an intermediate amount of Mg, while Mg solubility after in vitro digestion was Funori = Kombu > Aosa. Consequently, the absorbable Mg concentration was Aosa = Kombu > Funori.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The absorption of Mg from different seaweeds differs and is not affected by the Mg solubility alone. The absorbable Mg concentration was high in Aosa and in Kombu, indicating that Aosa and Kombu are good sources of Mg.
authors.affiliation: Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.
authors.forename: Eri
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yokota
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000737:chemistry; D004032:Diet / Q000208:ethnology; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000032:analysis; D004063:Digestion; D005269:Femur / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D057141:Food, Preserved / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007564:Japan; D007795:Laminaria / Q000737:chemistry; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009753:Nutritive Value; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000461:Rhodophyta / Q000737:chemistry; D012624:Seaweed / Q000737:chemistry*; D012995:Solubility; D013045:Species Specificity; D044445:Ulva / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D008274:Magnesium