%0 Journal Article
%T Lactobacillus helveticus-Derived Whey-Calcium Chelate Promotes Calcium Absorption and Bone Health of Rats Fed a Low-Calcium Diet.
%A Hu W
%A Pei Z
%A Xia A
%A Jiang Y
%A Yang B
%A Liu X
%A Zhao J
%A Zhang H
%A Chen W
%J Nutrients
%V 16
%N 8
%D 2024 Apr 11
%M 38674818
%F 6.706
%R 10.3390/nu16081127
%X This study investigated the characteristics of Lactobacillus helveticus-derived whey-calcium chelate (LHWCC) and its effect on the calcium absorption and bone health of rats. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy showed that carboxyl oxygen atoms, amino nitrogen atoms, and phosphate ions were the major binding sites with calcium in LHWCC, which has a sustained release effect in simulated in vitro digestion. LHWCC had beneficial effects on serum biochemical parameters, bone biomechanics, and the morphological indexes of the bones of calcium-deficient rats when fed at a dose of 40 mg Ca/kg BW for 7 weeks. In contrast to the inorganic calcium supplement, LHWCC significantly upregulated the gene expression of transient receptor potential cation V5 (TRPV5), TRPV6, PepT1, calcium-binding protein-D9k (Calbindin-D9k), and a calcium pump (plasma membrane Ca-ATPase, PMCA1b), leading to promotion of the calcium absorption rate, whereas Ca3(PO4)2 only upregulated the TRPV6 channel in vivo. These findings illustrate the potential of LHWCC as an organic calcium supplement.