title: Effect of a combination GOS/FOS® prebiotic mixture and interaction with calcium intake on mineral absorption and bone parameters in growing rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Increasing calcium intake is the most effective strategy for avoiding Ca deficit. However, if intake remains inadequate, improving Ca absorption becomes an important tool to optimize Ca homeostasis and bone health.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The effect of a mixture of GOS/FOS(®) 9:1 added to a normal- or low-Ca diets on Ca absorption and bone mineralization, density and structure was investigated, in a model of growing rats. Several colonic parameters to help support the findings were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Weanling Wistar rats received one of the four experimental AIN-93G diets: C5: 0.5% Ca; C3: 0.3% Ca; P5: 0.5% Ca + 5.3% GOS/FOS(®); P3: 0.3% Ca + 5.3% GOS/FOS(®) until 50 days (T = 50). At T = 50, lactobacillus and cecum weights were higher, whereas cecum pH was lower in P5 and P3 versus C5 and C3 (p < 0.001). At T = 50, fecal Ca, Mg and P were lower and their absorptions (mg/dL) were higher in P5 and P3 versus C5 and C3, respectively (p < 0.05). Ca, Mg and P absorption % was higher in P5 and P3 versus C5 and C3 (p < 0.001). Femur Ca and P content, bone mineral content, trabecular bone mineral density, tibia length, bone volume, osteoblast surface, stiffness and elastic modulus were higher in P5 and P3 versus C5 and C3 (p < 0.05). Despite the lower Ca content, P3 group reached similar values than C5 in all these latter parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplementing diets with the GOS/FOS(®) mixture increased bone mineralization, density and structure due to an increase in Ca, P and Mg absorptions. Thus, this prebiotic mixture may help to improve bone development in a period of high calcium requirements.
authors.affiliation: General and Oral Biochemistry Department, School of Dentistry, Buenos Aires University (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bryk
authors.forename: Magalí Zeni
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Coronel
authors.forename: Gretel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pellegrini
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mandalunis
authors.forename: María Ester
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Rio
authors.forename: María Luz Pita Martín
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: de Portela
authors.forename: Susana Noemí
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Zeni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D001846:Bone Development / Q000187:drug effects; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004032:Diet; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005690:Galactose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008297:Male; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D056692:Prebiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D056692:Prebiotics; C116580:fructooligosaccharide; D005690:Galactose