99E-13 |
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M. HEGSTED, A. R. Francis, K. L. McCutcheon, and K. A. Nolen. School of Human Ecology, Louisiana State Univ. Agricultural Center, 130 Human Ecology Bldg., Baton Rouge, LA 70803 Bone mineralization in growing rats requires an adequate supply of minerals in the diet. Mineral absorption may be affected by the dietary mineral source and solubility. Short chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS) are prebiotics that ferment in the colon yielding short chain fatty acids which lowers pH and increases mineral solubility for better absorption. Aquamin F® (Marigot Limited) is a 100% sea plant derived mineral source high in Ca, Mg and 70 trace minerals that may be better absorbed than CaCO3. The addition of scFOS to Aquamin F® may increase the amount of mineral incorporated into bones. The objective was to determine the synergistic effects of Aquamin F® (AM) supplemented with scFOS on bone mineral content and density in rats. Thirty-two 4-week old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four treatment groups of control, AM, scFOS (NutraFlora®, GTC Nutrition), and AM+scFOS diets. CaCO3 is the calcium source for the Control and scFOS diets. At week12, rats were sacrificed and bones were removed for analyses. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by peripheral dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (pDEXA). Bone mineral content was measured by inductively coupled plasma spectrophotometry. Rats fed AM+scFOS had higher vertebral BMD than rats fed Control (7%), AM (5%), or scFOS (6%) diets. Tibia dry weight was greater for rats fed diets that included Aquamin. Rats fed Aquamin had greater femur, tibia, and humerus Mg concentration and total Mg/bone than rats fed diets without Aquamin. Tibia total Ca/bone, Fe/bone, P/bone, and Zn/bone were all greater for rats fed diets with Aquamin. AM+scFOS increased femur Zn/bone (10%), tibia Mg/bone (14%) and femur Mg/bone (21%) when compared to controls. AM+scFOS improved bone mineralization when compared to scFOS + Ca CO3 or Control diets. Synergistic effects of AM+scFOS in diets increased bone mineralization and density and would be beneficial as a nutraceutical supplement.
Session 99E, Nutrition: General II
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