Two polyol, low digestible carbohydrates improve the apparent absorption of magnesium but not of calcium in healthy young men.

The effects of nondigestible oligosaccharides including polyols on intestinal mineral absorption have been studied extensively in animal experiments, but their impact on mineral absorption in humans remains to be established. We investigated the effects of feeding two fermentable, low digestible carbohydrates, on the apparent absorption and balance of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in humans. Nine healthy young men were given a control diet with dextrose or polyols, low digestible, fermentable carbohydrates (LHBC, HPFL) for 32-d periods according to a 3 x 3 Latin-square design.