Supplementing a low-protein diet with dibasic amino acids increases urinary calcium excretion in young women

J Nutr. 2014 Mar;144(3):282-8. doi: 10.3945/jn.113.185009. Epub 2014 Jan 15.

Abstract

Increasing dietary protein within a physiologic range stimulates intestinal calcium absorption, but it is not known if specific amino acids or dietary protein as a whole are responsible for this effect. Therefore, we selectively supplemented a low-protein (0.7 g/kg) diet with either the calcium-sensing receptor-activating amino acids (CaSR-AAAs) L-tryptophan, L-phenylalanine, and L-histidine, or the dibasic amino acids (DAAs) L-arginine and L-lysine, to achieve intakes comparable to the content of a high-protein diet (2.1 g/kg) and measured intestinal calcium absorption. Fourteen young women took part in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover feeding trial in which each participant ingested a 6-d low-protein diet supplemented with CaSR-AAAs, DAAs, or methylcellulose capsules (control) after an 11-d adjustment period. All participants ingested all 3 diets in random order. Intestinal calcium absorption was measured between days 5 and 6 using dual-stable calcium isotopes ((42)Ca, (43)Ca, and (44)Ca). There was no difference in calcium absorption between the diet supplemented with CaSR-AAAs (22.9 ± 2.0%) and the control diet (22.3 ± 1.4%) (P = 0.64). However, calcium absorption tended to be greater during the DAA supplementation period (25.2 ± 1.4%) compared with the control diet period (22.3 ± 1.4%) (P < 0.10). Larger and longer clinical trials are needed to clarify the possible benefit of arginine and lysine on calcium absorption.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amino Acids, Diamino / administration & dosage*
  • Arginine / administration & dosage
  • Body Mass Index
  • Calcium, Dietary / pharmacokinetics
  • Calcium, Dietary / urine*
  • Creatinine / blood
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Diet, Protein-Restricted*
  • Dietary Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Absorption
  • Lysine / administration & dosage
  • Phenylalanine / administration & dosage
  • Receptors, Calcium-Sensing / metabolism
  • Tryptophan / administration & dosage
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives
  • Vitamin D / blood
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Amino Acids, Diamino
  • Calcium, Dietary
  • Dietary Proteins
  • Receptors, Calcium-Sensing
  • Vitamin D
  • Phenylalanine
  • Tryptophan
  • Arginine
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D
  • Creatinine
  • Lysine