THE EFFECTS OF ISOMALTULOSE-BASED OLIGOMERS FEEDING AND CALCIUM DEFICIENCY ON MINERAL RETENTION IN RATS

We examined the effects of isomaltulose-based oligomers (IBOs) on the mineral content of the whole blood, kidney, liver and tibia in calcium deficient and calcium sufficient rats. Twenty-eight Wistar rats were divided equally into 4 grups and fed with the following diets ad libit um for 4 weeks: (1) calcium sufficient diet (Ca+, IBOs-), (2) calcium- sufficient-IBOs supply diet (Ca+, IBOs+), (3) calcium-deficient diet ( Ca-, IBOs-), (4) calcium-deficient-IBOs supply diet (Ca-, IBOs+). Ther e were no significant differences in final body weights among the grou ps. Food consumption in the calcium-deficient groups was higher than t hat in the calcium-sufficient groups. The tibia weight was significant ly decreased, and the calcium, magnesium and phosphorous contents were significantly decreased, and iron content was significantly increased in the tibia of calcium-deficient rats. On the other hand, in IBOs fe eding rats, tibia weight, and calcium, magnesium and phosphorous conte nts were significantly increased, and iron content was significantly d ecreased. These findings suggest that IBOs feeding improves mineral re tention especially in a state of calcium deficiency.