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Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Imaging of Aortic Calcification and Inflammation
Published on: May 31, 2016
Phytate inhibits bovine pericardium calcification in vitro
Félix Grases1, Pilar Sanchis, Antonia Costa-Bauzá
1Laboratory of Renal Lithiasis Research, University Institute of Health Sciences Research (IUNICS), University of Balearic Islands, Palma of Mallorca, Spain. fgrases@uib.es
Objective:
The present study examined the inhibitory effects of pyrophosphate, etidronate, and phytate on bovine pericardium calcification in vitro.
Methods:
Bovine pericardium was glutaraldehyde fixed and then placed in a flow chamber in the presence of a synthetic physiological fluid alone (control) or the fluid plus various concentrations of pyrophosphate, etidronate, or phytate. Following a 96-h incubation, fragments were removed and assayed for calcification by measuring calcium and phosphorus levels.
Results:
The data indicated that both pyrophosphate and etidronate at 1 mg/l (5.75 and 4.95 microM, respectively) inhibited bovine pericardium calcification, whereas neither agent had an effect at 0.5 mg/l (2.87 and 2.47 microM, respectively). Phytate was the most potent inhibitor of calcification, and the effects of this agent were apparent at levels as low as 0.25 mg/l (0.39 microM).
Conclusions:
While pyrophosphate, etidronate, and phytate were all able to inhibit bovine pericardium calcification in vitro, phytate was found to be the most effective.

