engleski

Dietary calcium supplementation in suckling rats: short-term benefit to bone?

Our previous investigation showed that dietary calcium supplementation during suckling period increases skeletal calcium and does not affect bone mineral density in adolescent rats. The present study aimed at evaluating how long does the increase in bone calcium persist after withdrawal of dietary calcium supplementation. Forty-eight female suckling Wistar rats were supplemented with 6% calcium (as hydrogenphosphate) in cow’ s milk from day of birth 6 through 14, seven hours per day. Controls were administered cow’ s milk. After daily treatments the pups were returned to their mothers. Skeletal calcium was measured three times: on day of birth 15 (at the end of supplementation), on day of birth 21 (at weaning), and on day of birth 27 (after one-week 0.33% calcium diet). Calcium in carcass (whole body after removal of all internal organs and skin) and trace essential elements (iron, zinc, copper) were analysed in the liver, kidneys and brain by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. As found earlier, 3-4 time higher calcium intake during suckling period increased calcium in carcass in comparison to the control. However, this difference in bone calcium disappeared one week after cessation of dietary calcium supplementation. No side effects on growth and other tissue essential elements were found (except a transient liver zinc decrease). Summing up, the increase in bone calcium due to dietary calcium supplementation during earliest period of life has no long-term effect on bone ; furthermore it disappears already at the time of weaning.

calcium supplementation; suckling rats; bone

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