NONDIGESTIBLE OLIGOSACCHARIDES DO NOT INTERFERE WITH CALCIUM AND NONHEME-IRON ABSORPTION IN YOUNG, HEALTHY-MEN

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.