The role of calcium utilization of intestinal flora in urinary calcium excretion

Objective: We aimed to evaluate whether Ca+2 Utilization of intestinal flora (IF) has an effect on urinary excretion of Ca+2 (UCaE) levels. Materials and Methods: Fecal samples (0.1 g/mL) of children who underwent UCaE examination in the past year were implanted in broths. Labeled Ca-45 (5 mu L) was added to the samples and incubated. From these samples, a 200-mu L quantity was filtrated with a 0.45-micrometer membrane and was rinsed in 200 mu L pure water. Ca-45 activity in the membrane was measured and defined as percent activity per bacteria (Ca-45(act) %/CFU). Levels of aerobic and anaerobic Ca-45(act) %/CFU and their correlations with UCaE were compared between hypercalciuric (Group I) and normocalciuric (Group II) patients. Results: Levels of Ca-45 %/CFU were similar between groups (P >.05). Aerobic and anaerobic Ca-45(act)%/CFU levels were not significantly correlated to UCaE, either in normocalciuric (P=.079, r = -0.503; P=.260, r = -0.420, stray mart respectively) or in hypercalciuric children (P =.509, r = 0.223; P =.623, r = -0.257, respectively). Conclusion: Similar Ca-45(act)%/CFU levels in the 2 groups imply that calcium utilization of IF does not have a distinct effect on UCaE. (C) 2007 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.