EFFECTS OF BETA-1-]4 LINKED GALACTOOLIGOSACCHARIDES ON USE OF MAGNESIUM AND CALCIFICATION OF THE KIDNEY AND HEART IN RATS FED EXCESS DIETARY PHOSPHORUS AND CALCIUM

Magnesium deficiency was induced in male Wistar rats by adding an exce ss of phosphorus and calcium to the diet (1.195 g of phosphorus and 1. 04 g of calcium/100 g of diet), Feeding of these animals with a diet c ontaining beta 1 --> 4 linked galactooligosaccharides (4'-GOS) (5 g of 4'-GOS/100 g of diet) increased the apparent magnesium absorption rat ios and the concentrations of magnesium in the serum and femur, and re duced accumulation of calcium in the kidney and heart, We speculate th at the use of magnesium increased by feeding 4'-GOS to a limited exten t prevented the lower magnesium status and the severity of calcificati on of the kidney and heart caused by excess dietary phosphorus and cal cium.