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Published on: April 13, 2022
A Mediterranean dietary style improves calcium utilization in healthy male adolescents
Isabel Seiquer1, Marta Mesías, Antonio Muñoz Hoyos
1Unit of Nutrition, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, High Spanish Council for Scientific Research, Camino del Jueves, 18100 Armilla, Granada, Spain. iseiquer@eez.csic.es
Objective:
To examine the effects of consuming a diet based on the Mediterranean patterns on calcium availability and metabolism in male adolescents.
Design:
A longitudinal study divided into two periods: a 3-day basal period, during which the subjects (n = 20; 12.9 +/- 1.14 years) consumed their usual diet (basal diet, BD), and a 28-day nutritional intervention period, in which an intervention Mediterranean-type diet - was consumed (ID).
Methods:
Dietary calcium utilization was assessed by means of calcium intake in food and calcium output in feces and urine as measured by flame absorption spectrophotometry. In addition, markers of calcium metabolism (serum Ca, parathyroid hormone and total alkaline phosphatase) and bone resorption (urine deoxypiridinoline) were measured.
Results:
No differences in total calcium intake were found between the two diets, but food sources of dietary calcium varied significantly. Compared with the BD, the consumption of the ID resulted in significant increases in calcium absorption (approximately 40%, p = 0.04) and retention (approximately 80%, p = 0.008), and a considerable decrease in urinary calcium excretion (approximately 40%, p = 0.01).The variations observed in bone markers reflected a higher bone turnover rate after the ID consumption.
Conclusions:
A varied diet based on Mediterranean diet patterns during adolescence greatly improves dietary calcium utilization, which may help to maximize the peak bone mass and prevent related diseases, such as osteoporosis.
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