Effects of Different Calcium Compounds on Bone Health

Abstract

Aims: To investigate the effects of different calcium supplements on the body's bones. Study Design: Based on the zebrafish model, the efficacy differences of six different calcium supplements in promoting bone development and improving osteoporosis were systematically evaluated. Six calcium compounds were investigated including calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), calcium hydrogen phosphate (CaHPO₄), hydroxyapatite (HA), microcrystalline - hydroxyapatite combined with Vitamins D3 and K1 (MCHA-D3-K1), calcium glubionate - lactobionate (Ca-glubionate/lactobionate), and calcium lactate - gluconate combined with Vitamins D3 and K2 (CaL-CaG-D3-K2). Place and Duration of Study: Hunter Biotechnology, Inc., between May 2024 and August 2024. Methodology: This study evaluated six calcium compounds for their effects on bone development and anti-osteoporosis in zebrafish. For bone development, we measured skull fluorescence and calcium content in normal zebrafish. For anti-osteoporosis efficacy, we used a dexamethasone-induced model to measure skull and osteogenic fluorescence intensity. Data are expressed as mean ± SE, and statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 26.0, with p < 0.05 considered significant. Results: In this zebrafish mode, the results showed that all six calcium compounds promoted bone development and mitigate osteoporosis, with some calcium compounds demonstrating superior intervention efficacy compared to other calcium compounds. In the osteoporosis model, the anti-osteoporosis effect of three calcium compounds are comparable. While in the model of promoting bone development, the treatment effect of calcium lactate & gluconate with Vitamins D3-K2 showed the highest effect, followed by calcium glubionate & lactobionate, and finally microcrystalline hydroxyapatite with Vitamin D3-K1. Conclusion: There were different effects between calcium compounds regarding promoting bone development and improving osteoporosis found in a zebrafish model. Some calcium compounds demonstrated superior efficacy compared to other forms, with calcium lactate - gluconate combined with vitamin D3 and K2 showing the most pronounced effect.