Effect of L-Lactic Acid on the Absorption of Calcium in Gastrectomized Rats

Abstract

The effect of dietary L-lactic acid (LA) (0.5, 1, 0, or 2.5g/100g of diet) on the absorption of calcium in gastrectomized rats was evaluated for 28d. Calcium phosphate was used as a source of calcium. The apparent calcium absorption ratio and the calcium contents of the femur and tibia in gastrectomized rats fed the control diet were significantly less than those in sham-operated rats. In the gastrectomized rats, the apparent calcium absorption ratio and the calcium contents of bone in the rats fed the lower doses of LA diets (LA 0.5 or 1.0g/100g of diet) were not affected; however, the apparent calcium absorption ratio and the calcium contents of bone in the rats fed the highest doses of LA diet (LA 2.5g/100g of diet) were greater than those in gastrectomized rats fed the control diet. Dietary LA (2.5g/100g of diet) also enhanced the phosphorus absorption and bone phosphorus content in the gastrectomized rats. We speculated that the highest dose of dietary LA might be associated with the dissolving of a water-insoluble form of calcium salt in the diet, thereby facilitating the calcium absorption and resulting in increased bone calcium content in gastrectomized rats.