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Acute effect of poly-gamma-glutamic acid on calcium absorption in post-menopausal women.

Author(s): Tanimoto H, Fox T, Eagles J, Satoh H, Nozawa H, Okiyama A, Morinaga Y, Fairweather-Tait SJ

Affiliation(s): Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney, UK. hiroyuki_tanimoto@ajinomoto.com

Publication date & source: 2007-12, J Am Coll Nutr., 26(6):645-9.

Publication type: Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

OBJECTIVE: Poly-gamma-glutamic acid (PGA) increases calcium (Ca) solubility in vitro and in vivo, and is associated with reduced bone loss in post-menopausal Japanese women. This study is the first to examine the effect of PGA on Ca absorption in humans. METHODS: A single-blind, randomized, crossover study with a 3-4 week wash-out was performed to determine the effect of PGA (80.6% glutamic acids) on Ca absorption measured by the double stable isotope method. Twenty-four healthy, non-smoking, postmenopausal women (mean age: 56.4 +/- SE 0.9) were given 200 g of orange juice containing 200 mg Ca as Ca-44 enriched CaCO(3), with or without 60 mg of PGA, after an overnight fast. The two tests were separated by 3-4 weeks. An intravenous injection of Ca-42 (CaCl(2) solution) was given 30 min after consuming the drink and a complete urine collection carried out from 24-48 h post-dosing. Ca absorption was calculated from the Ca isotope ratios measured by thermal ionization quadrupole mass spectrometry (TIQMS). RESULTS: Mean Ca absorption with PGA was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than without PGA, 39.1 (SE 1.6) % and 34.6 (SE 1.9) %, respectively. The effect of PGA on increasing Ca absorption was more marked in a sub-group of subjects whose baseline Ca absorption (without PGA) was lower than the population mean value. CONCLUSION: Postmenopausal women who received a single dose of PGA increased their intestinal Ca absorption particularly those individuals with lower basal absorptive capacity.

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