Eghm. Vandenheuvel et al., NONDIGESTIBLE OLIGOSACCHARIDES DO NOT INTERFERE WITH CALCIUM AND NONHEME-IRON ABSORPTION IN YOUNG, HEALTHY-MEN, The American journal of clinical nutrition, 67(3), 1998, pp. 445-451
The effect of inulin, fructooligosaccharides, and galactooligosacchari
des on true intestinal absorption of iron and calcium was measured in
men by using double stable-isotope techniques (oral Fe-57 and Ca-44 an
d intravenous Fe-58 and Ca-48). The incorporation of iron isotopes int
o erythrocytes and the urinary excretion of calcium isotopes was measu
red with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Twelve healt
hy, nonanemic, male subjects aged 20-30 y received four treatments con
sisting of a constant basal diet supplemented with 15 g/d inulin, fruc
tooligosaccharide, or galactooligosaccharide, or not supplemented (con
trol treatment). These four treatments were given for 21 d each accord
ing to a randomized, crossover design. Iron absorption was measured ov
er the last 7 d of treatment (days 15-21) and calcium absorption was m
easured on day 21 of each treatment period. Mean (+/- SEM) iron absorp
tion was 5.5 +/- 1.6%, 6.1 +/- 1.9%, 5.3 +/- 1.9%, and 5.1 +/- 1.5%, r
espectively, during treatment with inulin, fructooligosaccharide, gala
ctooligosaccharide, or the control; mean (+/- SEM) calcium absorption
was 25.8 +/- 2.3%, 26.3 +/- 1.9%, 26.3 +/- 2.6%, and 28.1 +/- 4.3%, re
spectively. None of the differences between treatments was significant
. It is concluded that 15 g/d inulin, fructooligosaccharide, or galact
ooligosaccharide did not have a negative effect on iron and calcium ab
sorption in young healthy men.