Calcium Bioavailability From A Fortified Cereal-Legume Snack (Laddoo) By Veena H. Ekbote (M.Sc.), Saumitra Kant (M.B.B.S.) , Anuradha V. Khadilkar (M.D.), Shashi A. Chiplonkar (Ph.D.) , Vaman V. Khadilkar (M.D) , M. Zulf Mughal (M.B.Ch.B., D.C.H., F.R.C.P.C.H)

Calcium intakes in underprivileged Indian children are often low. Improving calcium intake fortification of indigenous foods may be a viable strategy. The aim of this study was to evaluate calcium absorption, as judged by an acute increase in serum ionized calcium concentration, after ingestion of a calcium-fortified cereal-legume snack (laddoo). Methods: Three groups of eight children (8–12 y old) with low habitual dietary calcium intake were recruited for the study. After an overnight fast, a calcium-fortified (500 mg of calcium carbonate) cereal-legume snack (laddoo) was given to group A, a similar but non-fortified snack was given to group B, and group C received calcium carbonate (500 mg) alone. Serum concentrations of ionized calcium and intact parathyroid hormone were measured at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 h. Results: In group A, a peak of 6% above baseline was observed at 1 h in serum ionized calcium, whereas group C showed a peak of 5.5% at 4 h and group B showed a small increase of 1.8% at 1 h. The change in area under curve of groups A and C were of similar order (4.6 and 5.5, respectively), whereas that of group B was significantly lower (0.82). Serum parathyroid hormone was lowest at 2 h in groups A and B and at 3 h in group C.

Link : https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Shashi_Chiplonkar2/publication/261531458_calcium_Bioavailability_paper/links/0deec5348173c7bd3b000000.pdf