Orafti inulin may boost post-menopausal mineral absorption

A new small study suggests that Belgium-based Orafti's enriched inulin - RaftiloseSynergy1 - results in significant improvement in absorption of both calcium and magnesium in post-menopausal women.

RaftiloseSynergy1 is an enriched inulin powder containing a specific distribution of carefully selected chain lengths of inulin and oligofructose. It can be easily incorporated into a range of foods and drinks and provides the same technological advantages to food manufacturers as standard inulin and oligofructose.

The product has already been proven to increase calcium uptake from the diet in studies involving adolescents, notes Orafti. However, according to Dr Anne Friedlander and colleagues of the Clinical Studies Unit at the Palo Alto VA Health Care System in California, USA, the small human study showed that RaftiloseSynergy1 could enable post-menopausal women to increase their calcium uptake by as much as 20 per cent.

Calcium absorption is of particular importance to post-menopausal women as they are at high risk for osteoporosis, especially if they do not take hormone replacement therapy. Research has shown that the reduction in oestrogen levels after the menopause leads to a decrease in calcium absorption by the intestine and a corresponding increase in calcium excretion by the kidney. This results in a negative calcium balance which contributes to bone loss.

The study also examined the effect of the powder on the absorption of magnesium. Studies have indicated that some postmenopausal women with osteoporosis have a significant reduction in magnesium levels in both serum and bone and there are indications that magnesium supplementation may be beneficial to bone health. According to Friedlander, the study showed that, as for calcium, RaftiloseSynergy1 can increase magnesium uptake by up to 20 per cent compared with the placebo.

The study involved 15 healthy post-menopausal women and used a randomised crossover design. Participants were randomised to receive 6 grams of RaftiloseSynergy1 or a placebo twice a day for 6 weeks. After the initial 6 week period there was a 6 week washout period, followed by 6 weeks of the other treatment. Calcium and magnesium absorption were measured at baseline and 6 weeks after each treatment period. A significant difference between the effect of RaftiloseSynergy1 and the placebo was noted by the researchers.

Orafti Group​ is a subsidiary of the Belgian agro-food group Raffinerie Tirlemontoise/Tiense Suikerraffinaderij, part of the Suedzucker Group The group's head office is in Tienen, Belgium and the company operates in more than 70 countries, with production units in Oreye (Belgium), Wijchen (Netherlands) and Wijgmaal (Belgium).

For further information on this product contact Orafti at nsv@bensgv.pbz​