Abstract
The effects of administration of lactose (LA), fructooligosaccharides (FO) and other oligosaccharides (galactooligosaccharides: GO, isomaltooligosaccharides: IM, raffinose: RF) in the diet on absorption of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and phosphorus (P) in weanling male rats were examined by in vivo studies. in rats fed the FO diet, Ca, Mg and P absorption was significantly higher than in rats fed the LA diet. FO had a dose-dependent effect on mineral absorption (Exp.1). The enhancement of Ca, Mg and P absorption by FO persisted for as long as one month. A significant increase in the ash and mineral contents of the femur was observed in rats fed the FO diet, as compared with controls (Exp.2). FO had a positive effect on mineral absorption, and GO and RF had similar but somewhat variable effects. However, IM had no effect (Exp.3). There was a significantly positive correlation between mineral absorption and L-lactate concentration in the cecum. It was suggested that L-lactate concentration in the cecum had a direct effect on mineral absorption (Exp.3).
