Ingestion of epilactose, a non-digestible disaccharide, improves postgastrectomy osteopenia and anemia in rats through the promotion of intestinal calcium and iron absorption.

Gastrectomy often results in osteopenia and anemia because of calcium (Ca) and iron (Fe) malabsorption. Here, we investigated the effects of feeding epilactose, a non-digestible disaccharide, on gastrectomy-induced osteopenia, anemia, and Ca and Fe malabsorption in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Totally gastrectomized or sham-operated rats were fed the control or epilactose (50 g/kg) diets for 30 days. Gastrectomy severely decreased intestinal Ca and Fe absorption, femoral bone strength, Ca content, hemoglobin concentration, and hematocrit. These decreases were partly or totally restored by feeding epilactose. Feeding epilactose increased the cecal tissue weight and the soluble Ca concentration and short-chain fatty acid pools of the cecal contents. Collectively, the increases in cecal mucosal area and/or soluble Ca concentration of the cecal contents, resulting from short-chain fatty acid production by intestinal microbes, are thought to be responsible for the epilactose-mediated promotion of Ca and Fe absorption in the gastrectomized rats.