Bioavailability of Calcium from Sesame Seeds, Almond Powder, Whole Wheat Bread, Spinach and Nonfat Dry Milk in Rats

Abstract
Calcium bioavailability (BV) from sesame seeds, almond powder, whole wheat bread, spinach, and nonfat dry milk (NFDM) was compared to calcium BV from a calcium carbonate (CaCO3)‐supplemented control diet using a rat model. When comparing different calcium sources, the relative BV of the products was CaCO3 (100%), NFDM (100%) whole wheat bread (95%), almond powder (66%), sesame seeds (65%), NFDM and spinach mixture (52%), and spinach (47%). Separate almond, NFDM, and CaCO3 diets were supplemented with 0.4% ascorbic acid; vitamin C addition had no significant effect on calcium BV.