Bioavailability of bovine bone powder (BBP) as a dietary calcium source in vitamin D-deficient rats was investigated. Vitamin D-deficient rats were fed ad libitum a diet containing various concentrations (0.1, 0.44 and 1.2%) of calcium adjusted with BBP under a vitamin D-deficient condition for 28 days. During and after feeding, the concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, 25-hydroxyvitamin D_3 and alkaline phosphatase activity in plasma were measured. Furthermore, femoral bone length, width, weight, calcium and phosphorus contents, strength and mineral density were also measured. BBP increased body weights, plasma calcium levels, femoral contents, density and strength and decreased plasma alkaline phosphatase activity in proportion to the amounts of BBP in diets. When we compared the bioavailability of BBP and calcium carbonate at the concentration of 0.44% calcium in diet, BBP was more effective than calcium carbonate in the above all parameters. These results suggest that BBP could be a effective foodstuff as a dietary calcium source, even in the deficiency of vitamin D.
抄録全体を表示