Supplemental feeding of difructose anhydride III restores calcium absorption impaired by ovariectomy in rats.

In three separate experiments, we examined the effects of feeding difructose anhydride III (DFAIII) on intestinal calcium (Ca) absorption using female Sprague-Dawley rats (6 wk old) with or without ovariectomy (OVX). In Experiment 1, we showed that Ca absorption was lower in OVX rats fed the 2.0 and 3.0 g Ca/kg diets, but not the 1.0 g Ca/kg diet, than in sham-operated rats during a 3-wk test period. In Experiment 2, we demonstrated that Ca absorption rate in sham and OVX rats fed a diet containing 3% DFAIII was higher than that in rats fed a DFAIII-free diet 4 wk after consuming the test diets. Absorptive activities of everted sacs of the colon, but not of the duodenum, in rats fed DFAIII diet for 4 wk were higher than those in rats fed the control diet. In Experiment 3, we determined which of the small and large intestines is responsible for the effects of DFAIII on Ca absorption using OVX rats with cecocolonectomy or transsection and reanastomosis (sham). Both the sham and cecocolonectomized rats were divided into four subgroups and fed a control, polyethylene glycol (PEG), 1.5% DFAIII or 3% DFAIII diet. We set up the PEG group as another control group to observe the effects of shortening transit time of the small intestine in the DFAIII groups. Promotive effects of DFAIII on Ca absorption were abolished by cecocolonectomy. However, in the cecocolonectomized rats, the Ca absorption rate was still higher in the 1.5 and 3% DFAIII groups than in the PEG group. In conclusion, ovarian hormone deficiency impaired Ca absorption, but the reduction of Ca absorption was restored by feeding DFAIII.