ESTIMATION OF THE BIOAVAILABILITY OF ZINC AND CALCIUM FROM HUMAN, COWS, GOAT, AND SHEEP MILK BY AN IN-VITRO METHOD

The availability of zinc and calcium from human, cow's, goat, and shee p milk is evaluated by an in vitro method that involves a simulated hu man gastrointestinal digestion followed by measurement of dialyzabilit y of zinc and calcium. Zinc availability of milk showed the highest va lue for human milk (15.0%) and the lowest for sheep milk (1.0%), in bo th whole and skim milk. Calcium availability of the different types of milk did not differ significantly and ranged between 18 and 23%. No s ignificant differences in availability between whole and skim milk wer e found for both elements, except for zinc in cow's milk.