OLESTRA DOSE-RESPONSE ON FAT-SOLUBLE AND WATER-SOLUBLE NUTRIENTS IN HUMANS

Ninety normal healthy adults were given 0, 8, 20 or 32 g/d olestra for 8 wk as part of a diet that provided 1 +/- 0.2 of the recommended die tary allowance (RDA) of vitamins, A, D, E and K, folate zinc, calcium and iron. In addition, a 20 mu g/d supplement of vitamin D was supplie d. The diet provided 15% of energy from protein, 35% from fat and 55% from carbohydrate. The purpose of the study was to determine the dose response of olestra on vitamins D, E and K, carotenoids, vitamin B-12, folate and zinc. Circulating concentrations of retinol, carotenoids, tocopherols, 25-hydroxy- and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D metabolites, phyl loquinone, des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin, prothrombin, folate and hemat ological parameters were measured biweekly, as were urine concentratio ns of zinc and gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla). Clinical chemistry, u rinalysis and vitamin B-12 absorption were measured at wk 0 and 8. Ole stra reduced serum concentrations of carotenoids, alpha-tocopherol, 25 -hydroxyergocalciferol and phylloquinone in a dose-responsive manner. Olestra did not affect Gla excretion, plasma des-gamma-carboxyprothrom bin or prothrombin concentrations, prothrombin time, vitamin B-12 abso rption, overall vitamin D status or the status of folate or zinc. Labo ratory evaluations showed no health-related effects of olestra. Subjec ts in all groups reported common gastrointestinal symptoms such as loo se stools, fecal urgency and flatulence, which were transient and gene rally mild to moderate in severity. These symptoms did not affect prot ocol compliance or the ability to measure the potential for olestra to affect nutrient availability.