# Interaction of Dietary Wheat Bran and Dietary Calcium Levels ell Calcium Utilization and Bone Mass in Post-breeding Female Rats

• Published : 1998.11.01

#### Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the interaction of dietary wheat bran and dietary calcium levels n)n calcium utilization in post-breeding female rats. It was designed to compare the effects of four different levels (2.5, 5, 10 and 20%) of wheat bran and two different levels (0.5 and 1%) of calcium on bone and calcium balance in post-breeding female rats over a ten-week period. The effects of diet on animal weight gain, serum calcium, femur weight, femur calcium concentration, bone mass and calcium balance were determined and statistically analyzed. The addition of 20% wheat bran significantly (p$\leq$0.05) decreased the weight gain of rats. Serum calcium and bone calcium contents were more affected by dietary calcium level than by dietary wheat bran level. There was no significant difference in fat-free solid, ash, percentage of ash to fat-free solid and percentage of calcium to ash among groups. Groups fed the 1% calcium diet had a higher percentage of calcium to fat-free solid. All rats were in positive calcium balance during the three-4ay experimental period. The average calcium balance of the rats fed 1% calcium diet ranged from 25.34 to 53.90mg and the average calcium balance of the rats fed the 0.5% calcium diet ranged from 26.71 to 32.90mg. In rats receiving 2.5% wheat bran, the difference in calcium balance between the group fed the 1% calcium diet and the group fed the 0.5% calcium diet was only 1.37mg, which was not significantly (p$\leq$0.05) different. In rats receiving 20% wheat bran, the difference in calcium balance between the group fed the 1% calcium diet and the group fed the 0.5% calcium diet was 19.S7mg, which was significantly (p$\leq$0.05) different. The addition of wheat bran caused an increase in the calcium balance of the rats adminslesed the 1% calcium diet. On the other hand, the addition of wheat bran had no effect on the calcium balance of the rats adminislesed the 0.5% calcium diet. In conclusion, calcium utilization of rats wire more positively affected by the interaction of both dietary wheat bran levels and dietary calcium levels than either dietary wheat bran levels or dietary calcium levels alone. Moderate wheat bran consumption did not interfere with the calcium metabolism of rats when calcium intake was high enough.