Glycyrrhizic acid: the assessment of a no effect level.

Because from earlier experiments in rats and a pilot study in humans a no-effect level of glycyrrhizic acid could not be established, a second experiment was performed in healthy volunteers. The experiment was performed in females only, because the effects were most marked in females in the pilot study. Doses of 0, 1, 2 and 4 mg glycyrrhizic acid/kg body weight were administered orally for 8 weeks to 39 healthy female volunteers aged 19-40 years.

Lactulose stimulates calcium absorption in postmenopausal women.

Animal studies have indicated that calcium absorption is increased by lactulose, a synthetic disaccharide. Therefore, the influence of lactulose on calcium absorption was measured in postmenopausal women who may benefit from the possible enhancing effect of lactulose on calcium absorption. Twelve postmenopausal women drank 100 ml of water containing 5 or 10 g of lactulose or a reference substance at breakfast for 9 days.

Oligofructose stimulates calcium absorption in adolescents.

Background: In rats, nondigestible oligosaccharides stimulate calcium absorption. Recently, this effect was also found in human subjects.

Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate whether consumption of 15 g oligofructose/d stimulates calcium absorption in male adolescents.

Effect of nondigestible oligosaccharides on large-bowel functions, blood lipid concentrations and glucose absorption in young healthy male subjects.

Objective: To study the effect of the intake of 15 g nondigestible oligosaccharides per day on various parameters of large-bowel function, as well as on blood lipid concentrations and glucose absorption in man.

Design: Latin square, randomized, double-blind, diet-controlled.

Setting: Metabolic research unit.