ABSTRACT
This study was designed to compare calcium bioavailability and serum parathyroid hormone acute changes after oral intake of 500 mg of elemental calcium from liquid milk, yogurt, calcium-citrate-enriched powdered milk or a calcium carbonate pill; or after intake of soybean imitation-milk. After a 12-h fast, blood samples were drawn both at baseline and 1, 2, 3 and 4 h after an oral intake of the above-mentioned products, which were ingested together with a light neutral breakfast. The administration order of the study products was randomly assigned to each of 19 healthy young volunteers (11 females, 8 males). The baseline serum concentrations of ionized calcium, phosphorus and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were normal. Calcium-citrate-enriched powdered milk induced a significant increase in serum ionized calcium (p<0.001) and a significant and continuous decrease in serum iPTH concentration (p<0. 001). Yogurt and the calcium carbonate pill induced a similar but less significant effect, increasing serum ionized calcium (p<0.05) and decreasing serum iPTH (p<0.01). Liquid milk only induced a significant change in serum ionized calcium and iPTH concentration during the first 2 h; this effect was lost during the following 2 h. In conclusion, our study suggests the possibility that the addition of calcium citrate to powered milk may improve calcium bioavailability and enhance the inhibitory effect on serum iPTH in the assayed conditions.
