A recent study compared the bioavailability of a newly developed source of calcium, Omyaforte™ 100 from mineral producer Omya, with other frequently used calcium salts. The results prove that Omyaforte™ not only contains a high percentage of elemental calcium, but is also extremely bioavailable, making it an excellent and reliable source of calcium.
From a nutritional point of view, two factors are important when it comes to calcium supplementation: the amount of elemental calcium in the salt and its bioavailability. For the study published in the Food Chemistry journal, researchers compared the bioavailability of Omyaforte™ 100 with other commercially available calcium sources: calcium citrate tetrahydrate, tri-calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Using a Caco-2-model that reproduces the conditions of intestinal cells at lab scale, they studied the intestinal absorption of calcium.
The results show that Omyaforte™ 100 offers a higher elemental calcium content of 39% – almost twice as much as calcium citrate, which contains just 21%. In addition, it is almost twice as biologically available as calcium citrate and calcium carbonate. It generated a total intestinal uptake of 5.68 ± 0.26%, compared to calcium carbonate (3.93 ± 0.99%), calcium citrate tetrahydrate (3.41 ± 0.33%) and tri-calcium phosphate (1.85 ± 0.34%). These results suggest that the type of calcium salt may affect the bioavailability of calcium, since the uptake efficiency values vary.
Thanks to a patented recrystallization process, Omyaforte™ 100 offers a new mineral composition and structure with high porosity, which allows for faster access to gastric juices in the stomach. The accelerated dissolution in acidic environments results in a quicker release of calcium ions, which are then ready to be absorbed into the bloodstream via the small intestine. The innovative composition and structure of Omyaforte™ explains its higher bioavailability compared to the other calcium salts.
Therefore, the ingredient is perfectly suited to applications with a high content of bioavailable calcium, such as bone health mixtures, rehydration solutions and other powdered supplements. Plus, it can be combined with a broad range of other bone health ingredients, such as vitamin D or biopeptides. Products containing Omya’s new mineral solution are particularly beneficial for athletes, healthy agers and those who avoid dairy in their diet.
About Omya Group
Omya International AG is a leading global producer of calcium carbonates and a worldwide distributor of specialty additives, premium services, and solutions. Founded in 1884 in Switzerland, Omya has a global presence extending to more than 175 locations in over 50 countries with 8,000 employees. Omya provides sustainable added-value products and services from responsibly sourced materials to meet current and future generations' needs. Omya offers innovative solutions based on high purity natural minerals and complementary ingredients that comply with the most stringent regulatory and quality standards in the Consumer Goods sector.
