Influence of short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (sc-FOS) on absorption of Cu, Zn, and Se in healthy postmenopausal women

• Published in: Journal of the American College of Nutrition 2005-02, Vol.24 (1), p.30-37
• Main Authors: Ducros, V, Arnaud, J, Tahiri, M, Coudray, C, Bornet, F, Bouteloup-Demange, C, Brouns, F, Rayssiguier, Y, Roussel, A.M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: absorption; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Availability; copper; Copper - pharmacokinetics; Cross-Over Studies; dietary minerals; Double-Blind Method; Feces - chemistry; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; fructo-oligosaccharides; fructose; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GC-MS = gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; HRT = hormone replacement therapy; Humans; ICPMS = inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry; intestinal absorption; Intestinal Absorption - drug effects; IR = isotopic ratio; Isotope Labeling; Life Sciences; Middle Aged; mineral metabolism; NDOs = nondigestible oligosaccharides; Nutritional Requirements; oligosaccharides; Oligosaccharides - pharmacology; postmenopausal women; Postmenopause - metabolism; sc-FOS = short-chain fructooligosaccharides; selenium; Selenium - pharmacokinetics; stable isotopes; trace elements; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; zinc; Zinc - pharmacokinetics
• ISSN: 0731-5724; 1541-1087
• DOI: 10.1080/07315724.2005.10719440

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of short-chain fructooligosaccharides (sc-FOS) on the absorption of Cu, Zn, and Se among postmenopausal women who are potential candidates to subclinical trace element deficiencies. DESIGN: A randomized double blind cross-over study. SETTING: This study was carried out at the Human Nutrition Research Center, Clermont-Ferrand, France. SUBJECTS: 11 postmenopausal women aged 53-70 y, not taking hormone replacement therapy were enrolled and completed the study. INTERVENTIONS: Diets with 10 g/day sc-FOS or placebo were given for 5 weeks each in random order followed by a wash-out period of at least 3 weeks. At the end of each period, stable isotopes (3.19 mg ⁶⁷Zn as ZnCl₂, 2.06 mg ⁶⁵Cu as CuCl₂ and 52.3 [micro]g ⁷⁴Se as sodium selenite) and radiopaque pellets (as fecal excretion index) were administered during lunch. Stools were collected for the next 5-7 days. Isotopes were determined by ICP-MS (Cu and Zn) or GC-MS (Se). RESULTS: Copper absorption was significantly enhanced (p = 0.042) by sc-FOS. No effect of sc-FOS was observed on Zn, and Se absorption. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study on the influence of sc-FOS on trace element metabolism. The observed increase in copper absorption may be of interest regarding daily copper requirements in menopausal women. However, the relevance of this observation remains to be established.