ACCELERATING EFFECT OF CHITOSAN INTAKE ON URINARY CALCIUM EXCRETION BY RATS

The effect of chitosan on calcium (Ca-47) metabolism was investigated in rats, The whole-body retention of Ca-45 by rats fed on a 5% chitosa n diet was significantly decreased when compared with that of rats fed an a cellulose diet, but showed no significant difference from that o f rats fed on a fiber-free diet. Although there was no significant dif ference in the fecal excretion of Ca-47 between the chitosan group and the cellulose or fiber-free group, the urinary excretion of Ca-47 was significantly increased in the chitosan group when compared with the cellulose group, These results suggest that dietary chitosan would aff ect the calcium metabolism in animals.