The effect of oral calcium on cholesterol metabolism

The effects of calcium on cholesterol metabolism have been examined in 6 patients. The age of the subjects ranged from 61–73 years. Five of the patients were osteoporotic. The calcium was administered as organic salts (calcium glycerophosphate or calcium gluconogalactogluconate) and as dried skimmed milk.

The results show that increased calcium in the organic form caused increased excretion of faecal bile acids and faecal total fat. There was no change in faecal neutral steroid output; increased faecal cholesterol was compensated by decreased coprostanol excretion. When the calcium was given in the form of skimmed milk, faecal bile acids and faecal fat remained elevated. Faecal excretion of cholesterol continued to rise and was accompanied by the return of faecal coprostanol output almost to the basal level, resulting in increased total neutral steroid excretion.

The serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels showed little change from the basal levels during the calcium supplementation periods.