Effect of nano-calcium-enriched milk on calcium metabolism in ovariectomized rats

This study was designed to examine the effect of different kinds of calcium enrichment on serum and urine indices of mineral status in ovariectomized rats. Twenty-four 7-week-old Sprague-Dawley female rats were divided into four groups, ovariectomized, and fed diets containing the following: (1) Control, non-Ca-enriched milk; (2) OVX1, calcium carbonate-enriched milk; (3) OVX2, ionized Ca-enriched milk; and (4) OVX3, nano-Ca-enriched milk. After 18 weeks of feeding, the food efficiency ratio in the nano-Ca-fed group was significantly lower compared with those in the Control and OVX2 groups. There was no difference in serum and fecal Ca among the groups. The bone/total alkaline phosphatase ratio was significantly higher in rats fed milk enriched with nano-Ca (59%) and calcium carbonate (62%) than in control (44%) animals. Urinary Ca was the highest in the nano-Ca-enriched group; however, urinary excretions of deoxypyridinoline and hydroxyproline were significantly decreased in the nano-Ca-enriched group. The present results indicate that consumption of nano-Ca-enriched milk resulted in an increase of urinary excretion of calcium and a decrease in deoxypyridinoline and hydroxyproline in ovariectomized rats.