The role of calcium utilization of intestinal flora in urinary calcium excretion.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate whether Ca(+2) utilization of intestinal flora (IF) has an effect on urinary excretion of Ca(+2) (UCaE) levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fecal samples (0.1 g/mL) of children who underwent UCaE examination in the past year were implanted in broths. Labeled (45)Ca (5 muL) was added to the samples and incubated. From these samples, a 200-muL quantity was filtrated with a 0.45-micrometer membrane and was rinsed in 200 muL pure water. (45)Ca activity in the membrane was measured and defined as percent activity per bacteria ((45)Ca(act) %/CFU). Levels of aerobic and anaerobic (45)Ca(act) %/CFU and their correlations with UCaE were compared between hypercalciuric (Group I) and normocalciuric (Group II) patients. RESULTS: Levels of (45)Ca %/CFU were similar between groups (P > .05). Aerobic and anaerobic (45)Ca(act)%/CFU levels were not significantly correlated to UCaE, either in normocalciuric (P = .079, r = -0.503; P = .260, r = -0.420, stray mart respectively) or in hypercalciuric children (P = .509, r = 0.223; P = .623, r = -0.257, respectively). CONCLUSION: Similar (45)Ca(act)%/CFU levels in the 2 groups imply that calcium utilization of IF does not have a distinct effect on UCaE.