The purpose of this study was to compare the calcium (Ca) bioavailability from eggshell fractions containing different particle size to purified CaCO3 in male growing rats. Mineral absorption, bone mineral concentration, and biomechanical properties were evaluated. Mean Ca absorption of rats fed with eggshell diets amounted to 56.2% of the ingested Ca, which is considered high. However, we observed lower Ca absorption in large-sized particle eggshell fraction (ES L) and small-sized particle eggshell fraction groups but similar Ca absorption in intermediate-sized particle eggshell fraction (ES M) compared with the CaCO3 group. Rats that received ES M and ES L had higher P and Mg absorption than the CaCO3 group. No changes were observed in the bone mineral deposition, weight or mechanical resistance. We conclude that eggshell Ca is well absorbed by the intestine and retained in bones of growing rats, being a low cost alternative to achieve adequate Ca ingestion.
Keywords: Eggshell; bioavailability; calcium; magnesium; phosphorus; rats.