Calcium-enriched goat milk, in comparison with similarly enriched cow milk, favours magnesium bioavailability in rats with nutritional ferropenic anaemia

BACKGROUND: The effects of dietary consumption of goat or cow milk, normal or enriched with calcium (Ca), on magnesium (Mg) bioavailability was evaluated in rats with nutritional ferropenic anaemia. Control and iron-deficient rats were fed for 14 days with iron-normal diets containing either normal (5000 mg kg(-1) diet) or high (10 000 mg kg(-1) diet) Ca content. RESULTS: The results shown that the goat milk diet gave the best results for digestive and metabolic utilization of Mg, both among the anaemic and the control group, with respect to the cow milk and standard diets. The most noteworthy result of Ca enrichment on the nutritive utilization of Mg is that it is less prejudicial in this respect when supplemented via goat milk than with cow milk or the standard diet. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate the beneficial effects of the goat milk, normal or with double Ca, on the nutritional utilization of Mg; therefore the consumption of this type of milk for people with nutritional ferropenic anaemia can be recommended. (c) 2007 Society of Chemical Industry.