Bioavailability of calcium from tofu as compared with milk in premenopausal women

Abstract

Using a cross-over design, two studies were conducted to measure calcium absorption from calcium-set tofu compared to milk in healthy, premenopausal women. In "study 1," calcium absorption from tofu set with CaCl2 was determined in Caucasian women by fecal recovery of the stable isotope, 44Ca. In "study 2," calcium absorption was determined in Asian women from tofu set with CaSO4 by appearance of 45Ca in serum after 5 h. Analysis of the studies, both separately and pooled, showed that calcium absorption was similar between calcium-set tofu and milk. Calcium-set tofu is a concentrated source of bioavailable calcium.