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Effect of a mixture of calcium, vitamin D, inulin and soy isoflavones on bone metabolism in post-menopausal women: a retrospective analysis

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Abstract

Objectives

Aging might affect the effectiveness of the sole supplementation of calcium and vitamin D in post-menopausal women, due to the development of vitamin D resistance in the gut, which limits calcium absorption. Thus, we wanted to test the efficacy of a mixture of calcium (500 mg), 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D; 300 IU], inulin (3 g) and soy isoflavones (40 mg), to improve calcium absorption in this type of population.

Study design

It is a retrospective study on otherwise healthy post-menopausal women.

Main outcome measures

The following parameters were evaluated at baseline and after 3 months of supplementation: daily calciuria as an indirect marker of calcium absorption, serum 25(OH)D, parathormone, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) as a marker of bone anabolism, collagen telopeptide and osteocalcin as markers of bone resorption and bone turnover, respectively.

Results

Twenty-eight women (median age 67 years) were included in the analysis. The supplementation markedly increased daily calciuria (+60 %; p = 0.00009), while reducing parathormone levels (−18 %; p = 0.02) and leaving 25(OH)D unaltered. An increase in IGF1 (+16 %; p = 0.01) and a reduction in collagen telopeptide (−17 %; p = 0.04) were observed, too, as well as a modest trend towards osteocalcin reduction, although not significant.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the considered mixture improved intestinal calcium absorption and bone metabolism in post-menopausal women. Since the amount of supplemented calcium was relatively low and 25(OH)D levels were unchanged, the observed effects are likely due to the combined contributions of inulin and soy isoflavones.

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Abbreviations

CTx:

Collagen telopeptide

FOS:

Fructooligosaccharides

HRT:

Hormone replacement therapy

IGF1:

Insulin-like growth factor 1

IU:

International unit

PTH:

Parathormone

SCFA:

Short chain fatty acids

SD:

Standard deviation

TRPV6:

Transient receptor potential vanilloid type 6 Ca2+ channel

25(OH)D:

25-Hydroxyvitamin D

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Acknowledgments

M. Bevilacqua designed the study, wrote the protocol, collected and analyzed data, and wrote the manuscript. V. Righini and D. Certan collected data. M. Alemanni participated to the writing of the manuscript. G. Gandolini revised the protocol and the manuscript, and participated in data analysis.

Conflict of interest

All authors declare that they have seen and approved the final version of the paper. M. Bevilacqua and G. Gandolini have been consultants of Bayer SpA. for the last 3 years. M. Alemanni is an employee of Bayer SpA.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrinology and Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Luigi Sacco Hospital (Vialba), University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Maurizio Bevilacqua, Velella Righini & Diana Certan

  2. IRCCS “S. Maria Nascente”, Rheumatology and Bone Metabolism Unit, Don Gnocchi Foundation ONLUS, Milan, Italy

    Giorgio Gandolini

  3. Medical Affairs, Medical Department, Bayer SpA - Pharmaceuticals, viale Certosa, 210, 20156, Milan, Italy

    Matteo Alemanni

Authors
  1. Maurizio Bevilacqua
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  2. Velella Righini
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  3. Diana Certan
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  4. Giorgio Gandolini
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  5. Matteo Alemanni
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matteo Alemanni.

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Bevilacqua, M., Righini, V., Certan, D. et al. Effect of a mixture of calcium, vitamin D, inulin and soy isoflavones on bone metabolism in post-menopausal women: a retrospective analysis. Aging Clin Exp Res 25, 611–617 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-013-0093-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-013-0093-y

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