Role of calcium on lipid digestion and serum lipids: a review

Abstract

Calcium is an essential nutrient for humans that can be taken as supplement or in a food matrix (e.g. dairy products). It is suggested that dietary calcium may have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk but the mechanism is not clear. In this review, the main mechanisms of the possible cholesterol-lowering effect of calcium, i.e. interaction with fatty acids and bile acids, are described and clinical evidences are presented. The observations from interventional studies of the possible cholesterol-lowering effect in terms of the main related mechanisms are variable and do not seem to fulfill all the related aspects. It seems that the interplay of calcium in blood lipid metabolism might be due to its complex and multiple roles in the lipid digestion in the small intestine. The interactions between calcium and, fatty acids and bile may lead to impaired mixed micelle formation and solubilization, which is crucial in the lipid absorption and metabolism. In addition, the calcium source and its surrounding matrix will have an influence over the physiological outcome. This research is important for the delivery and formulation of calcium, particularly with the move toward plant-based diets.

Keywords:

• Calcium
• lipid digestion
• cholesterol
• fatty acids
• bile

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC, UK); this research was funded by the BBSRC Institute Strategic Programme Food Innovation and Health BB/R012512/1 and its constituent project(s) BBS/E/F/000PR10343 (Theme 1, Food Innovation) and BBS/E/F/000PR10345 (Theme 2, Digestion in the Upper GI Tract).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.