title: Effect of a mixture of GOS/FOS®on calcium absorption and retention during recovery from protein malnutrition: experimental model in growing rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During growth, protein deprivation impairs epiphyseal growth plate (EGP) height, bone volume (BV) and endochondral ossification. During catch-up growth, Ca availability becomes essential to ensure the extra amount needed to achieve optimal peak bone mass and strength. GOS and FOS improve mineral absorption in the colon.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The effect of a mixture of GOS/FOS®9:1 added to a 0.5 %Ca (NCa) and a 0.3 %Ca (LCa) diets on Ca, P and Mg absorptions and bone mineralization, density and structure using an experimental model of growing rats recovering from early protein malnutrition was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  To induce protein malnutrition, rats were fed a low protein diet: 4 % (LPD) during 1 week and then were randomly assigned to recovery groups (R) until day 50 (T = 50) as follows: R0.5 %: NCa; RP0.5 %: NCa + 5.3 % GOS/FOS®; R0.3 %: LCa and RP0.3 %: LCa + 5.3 % GOS/FOS®. Control groups received the 0.5 %Ca or 0.3 %Ca diet from weaning until day 40 or 50.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Body weight and length increased in C groups throughout the study; both were arrested in all R during LPD consumption and increased immediately after re-feeding. Independently of dietary Ca content, LS counts, β-glucosidase and Ca, P and Mg absorption increased, whereas cecum pH, β-glucuronidase, urease and tryptophanase decreased in RP0.5 %: and RP0.3 %: as compared to the other studied groups (p < 0.01). Prebiotic consumption decreased CTX levels and increased femur Ca, Mg and P contents, total skeleton bone mineral content, proximal tibia and spine BMD, BV, EGP height and hypertrophic zone thickness, stiffness and elastic modulus as compared to recovery groups fed the prebiotic-free diets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Under the present experimental conditions, GOS/FOS®mixture induced colonic positive effects, which increased Ca, P and Mg absorption. Thus, consuming the prebiotic-containing diet resulted in an extra amount of minerals that improved bone development in growing rats recovering from protein malnutrition.
authors.affiliation: General and Oral Biochemistry Department, School of Dentistry, Buenos Aires University (UBA), Av. Córdoba 2351-8vo. Piso (1120), Buenos Aires, Argentina.|Metabolic Bone Diseases Laboratory, Clinical Hospital, Immunology, Genetic and Metabolism Institute (INIGEM), National Council for Scientific and Technologic Research (CONICET), Buenos Aires University (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bryk
authors.affiliation: Metabolic Bone Diseases Laboratory, Clinical Hospital, Immunology, Genetic and Metabolism Institute (INIGEM), National Council for Scientific and Technologic Research (CONICET), Buenos Aires University (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Magalí Zeni
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Coronel
authors.affiliation: Metabolic Bone Diseases Laboratory, Clinical Hospital, Immunology, Genetic and Metabolism Institute (INIGEM), National Council for Scientific and Technologic Research (CONICET), Buenos Aires University (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lugones
authors.affiliation: Histology and Embryology Department, School of Dentistry, Buenos Aires University (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mandalunis
authors.affiliation: National Council for Scientific and Technologic Research (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: María Esther
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Rio
authors.affiliation: Biophysics Department, School of Dentistry, Buenos Aires University (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ariel Felix
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Gualtieri
authors.affiliation: Food Science and Nutrition Department, School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Buenos Aires University (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: María Luz Pita Martín
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: de Portela
authors.affiliation: General and Oral Biochemistry Department, School of Dentistry, Buenos Aires University (UBA), Av. Córdoba 2351-8vo. Piso (1120), Buenos Aires, Argentina. snzeni@hotmail.com.|Metabolic Bone Diseases Laboratory, Clinical Hospital, Immunology, Genetic and Metabolism Institute (INIGEM), National Council for Scientific and Technologic Research (CONICET), Buenos Aires University (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina. snzeni@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Susana Noemí
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Zeni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D001835:Body Weight; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D001846:Bone Development / Q000187:drug effects; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002432:Cecum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005269:Femur / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006132:Growth Plate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008297:Male; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016226:Phosphorus, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D056692:Prebiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014312:Trisaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014368:Tryptophanase / Q000378:metabolism; D014510:Urease / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D016226:Phosphorus, Dietary; D056692:Prebiotics; D014312:Trisaccharides; C116580:fructooligosaccharide; C072242:4'-galactooligosaccharide; D005966:Glucuronidase; D014510:Urease; D014368:Tryptophanase; D008274:Magnesium
keywords: Calcium absorption; Calcium retention; Catch-up growth; Fructo-oligosaccharides; Galacto-oligosaccharides; Undernourished rats