Positive effects of a chicken eggshell powder-enriched vitamin-mineral supplement on femoral neck bone mineral density in healthy late post-menopausal Dutch women.

Although bone metabolism is largely under genetic control, the role of nutrition is considerable. The present study evaluates the effects of chicken eggshell powder, a new source of dietary Ca, and purified CaCO3 on bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine and hip. Besides BMD we also looked at biochemical markers of bone and Ca metabolism. Both Ca sources were provided in combination with minerals and vitamins including Mg, cholecalciferol and phylloquinone. We designed a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to take place over 12 months. Healthy Caucasian women (n 85), selected by age (> or =50 and <70 years), from the databases of general practitioners were recruited by telephone calls. They had to be at least 5 years post-menopausal, with lumbar spine T-score being > - 2.5. At baseline, their mean habitual daily Ca intake was adequate. The women were randomly allocated to: eggshell powder-enriched (group A; n 24), purified CaCO3-enriched (group B; n 22), or a placebo product (group C; n 27). BMD was measured at baseline and then after 6 and 12 months of supplementation as were the biochemical markers bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, amino-terminal propeptide extension of type I collagen, deoxypyridinoline, calcitonin, intact parathyroid hormone, calcidiol, and urinary Ca. After 12 months of supplementation, only mean BMD of the femoral neck in group A was significantly increased (P=0.014) by 1.75% (95% CI 0.18, 3.32) compared with a decrease of -0.60% (95% CI -1.92, 0.72) in group C. This increase coincided with significant decreases in markers of bone resorption and formation. No significant changes were seen in BMD at other sites, including lumbar spine, nor in groups B and C. No differences were found between groups A and B, or B and C. The present study indicates that healthy late post-menopausal women with an adequate Ca intake at baseline may increase BMD of the hip within 12 months following supplementation with the chicken eggshell powder-enriched supplement.

SP-A-enriched surfactant for treatment of rat lung transplants with SP-A deficiency after storage and reperfusion.

BACKGROUND: The function of pulmonary surfactant is affected by lung transplantation, contributing to impaired lung transplant function. A decreased amount of surfactant protein-A (SP-A) after reperfusion is believed to contribute to the impaired surfactant function. Surfactant treatment has been shown to improve lung transplant function, but the effect is variable. We investigated whether SP-A enrichment of surfactant improved the efficacy of surfactant treatment in lung transplantation. METHODS: Left and right lungs of Lewis rats, inflated with 50% O2, were stored for 20 hr at 8 degrees C. Surfactant in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from right lungs was investigated after storage (n=6). Left lungs were transplanted into syngeneic recipients and treated with SP-A-deficient surfactant (n=6) or SP-A-enriched surfactant (n=6) just before reperfusion. Air was instilled into untreated lung transplants (n=6). Sham operated (n=4) and normal (n=8) animals served as controls. Lung function was measured during 1 hr of reperfusion; surfactant components in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were measured after reperfusion. RESULTS: After storage the amount of SP-A decreased by 27%, whereas surfactant phospholipids changed minimally. After reperfusion a further decrease of SP-A was paralleled by profound changes in surfactant phospholipids. Lung transplant function, however, remained relatively good. After instillation of SP-A-enriched surfactant, PO2 values were reached that approximated sham control PO2 values, whereas after SP-A-deficient surfactant treatment, the PO2 values did not improve. CONCLUSION: Enrichment of surfactant with SP-A for treatment of lung transplants improves the efficacy of surfactant treatment.