2.2.8.4 Interference with calcium
Rats
Rats received diets supplemented with calcium and phosphate
with and without 10% sodium alginate. No effect on the absorption
and skeletal retention of calcium was observed (Slat et al., 1971).
Humans
Calcium balance experiments on six healthy adults taking 8 g of
sodium alginate daily for seven days failed to show any interference
with the absorption of calcium from a normal mixed diet (Millis &
Reed, 1947).
In 14 out of 15 men receiving 1.5 g sodium alginate the
gastrointestinal content of strontium was reduced by a factor of two
while calcium absorption was hardly affected (Harrison et al.,
1966).
The absorption and retention of 47Ca and 85Sr was compared
for four human volunteers on a normal diet with and without sodium
alginate supplement. Fifteen to twenty grams alginate/day was given
for seven days. Alginate decreased the retention of 85Sr and
47Ca by about 70 and 7%, respectively. No changes in excretion
pattern of Na, K, Mg or P were observed (Carr et al., 1968).