DiCalcium Malate tops in bioavailability

ST. CLAIR SHORES, Mich.

The calcium form dicalcium malate appears to be significantly more bioavailable than some other commercially-available forms of calcium, according to a study presented at the FASEB Experimental Biology 2006 meeting in San Francisco. In a study coordinated by London, Ontario-based KGK Synergize, researchers randomized 60 subjects into four groups, each of which received different forms of calcium for approximately five weeks; the calcium forms were calcium amino acid chelate (18%), dicalcium malate (from Albion Advanced Nutrition, covered under U.S. Patent No. 6,706,904), calcium amino acid chelate (26%) and calcium carbonate. After ingestion of a single dose containing 900 mg of elemental calcium, no significant differences were observed in area under the curve (AUC), suggesting similar bioavailability; however, there were significant differences among the groups in maximum concentration (Cmax), time to reach maximum concentration (Tmax) and half-life of elimination. Comparing the results, it appeared dicalcium malate had the longest half-life and appeared to be the most bioavailable, followed by the 18% chelate, the 26% chelate and the calcium carbonate, in that order.