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Galacto-oligosaccharides: Prebiotic Effects on Calcium Absorption and Bone Health

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Nutritional Influences on Bone Health

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Abstract

Adolescence presents an opportune time to influence peak bone mass with prebiotic agents like galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) that increase calcium absorption in the large intestine. Previous literature has helped elucidate the mechanisms by which prebiotics elicit their response which involves decreased luminal pH following bacterial fermentation. In addition to improved mineral absorption, dietary supplementation with GOS in rats has been associated with improved bone mineral content (BMC) during growth, reduced losses of BMC and bone mineral density (BMD) after ovariectomy, and increased cecal content weight. Similar bone-sparing results have been seen in postmenopausal women, while preliminary results in adolescents show that GOS increases fractional calcium absorption. This effect may be mediated by bacterial fermentation in the colon as bifidobacteria content of the feces was increased after GOS consumption. Further work is needed to fully elucidate the intestinal mechanism and understand the long-term effects of GOS consumption.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition Science, Purdue University, Stone Hall, 700 W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA

    Corrie M. Whisner PhD & Connie M. Weaver PhD

Authors
  1. Corrie M. Whisner PhD
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  2. Connie M. Weaver PhD
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Correspondence to Corrie M. Whisner PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Internal Medicine, Hirslanden Clinic/Bois Cerf, Ave. d'Ouchy 31, Lausanne, 1006, Vaud, Switzerland

    Peter Burckhardt

  2. , Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, 711 Washington Street, Boston, 02111, Massachusetts, USA

    Bess Dawson-Hughes

  3. , Nutrition and Science, Purdue University, W. State Street 700, West Lafayette, 47907-2059, Indiana, USA

    Connie M. Weaver

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Whisner, C.M., Weaver, C.M. (2013). Galacto-oligosaccharides: Prebiotic Effects on Calcium Absorption and Bone Health. In: Burckhardt, P., Dawson-Hughes, B., Weaver, C. (eds) Nutritional Influences on Bone Health. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2769-7_30

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2769-7_30

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