F. Couzy et al., CALCIUM BIOAVAILABILITY FROM A CALCIUM-RICH AND SULFATE-RICH MINERAL-WATER, COMPARED WITH MILK, IN YOUNG-ADULT WOMEN, The American journal of clinical nutrition, 62(6), 1995, pp. 1239-1244
Some mineral waters have a high calcium content and may contribute a s
ignificant part of the human daily requirements. Calcium bioavailabili
ty from a calcium- and sulfate-rich mineral water (CS-W) containing 11
.2 mmol Can (467 mg/L) was compared with that from milk in nine health
y young women. Calcium absorption was measured in the fasting state wi
th a dual-label stable-isotope technique. Fractional absorption rates
from milk and CS-W were 25.0 +/- 6.7% and 23.8 +/- 4.8% ((x) over bar
+/- SD), respectively, and did not differ significantly (P = 0.05). Ur
ine was collected for 36 h after the administration of the oral stable
isotope while the subjects consumed a controlled diet and a quantity
of milk or CS-W providing 25 mmol (1000 mg) Ca. No significant differe
nce was found in the excretion of calcium, nor in the excretion of the
two stable isotopes. Mean urinary sulfate excretion was significantly
increased by 35% when the CS-W was consumed. No significant correlati
on was found between 36-h urinary excretion of the intravenous calcium
tracer and sulfate, sodium, or urine volume. Therefore, calcium from
the CS-W was as well absorbed and retained as that from milk, and no c
alciuric effect of sulfate was found, showing that such mineral waters
can be valuable dietary sources of calcium.