Biodisponibilidade in vitro de cálcio de suplementos alimentares

Abstract

The primary mineral in the human body is calcium, which plays a crucial role in the mineralization of bones and teeth, as well as in regulating intracellular activities in various tissues. For most people, the main dietary source of this mineral is milk and its derivatives, as they are typically consumed in significant quantities and are easily incorporated into daily diets. Given that approximately 14% of the population identifies as vegetarian and consequently does not consume dairy products, there is a need to explore new sources of calcium and determine whether these sources are bioavailable in sufficient quantities for human supplementation. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the bioavailability of calcium in different samples, establish a standardized protocol to quantify this bioavailability, compare the bioavailability among three different samples calcium carbonate, calcium propionate, and calcium derived from the marine algae Lithothamnium calcareum and identify the source with the highest content of bioavailable calcium.To determine the bioavailable calcium content, an in vitro bioavailability experiment was conducted using simulated gastric and intestinal digestion. The results suggest comparable percentages of bioavailability between the samples, with calcium carbonate and Lithothamnium calcareum showing 17.1% and calcium propionate showing 17.3%. These findings indicate that Lithothamnium calcareum demonstrated calcium bioavailability comparable to the other tested samples, reinforcing its potential as a viable and high-quality alternative for calcium supplementation.