The effect of oral calcium carbonate administration on serum lipoproteins of children with familial hypercholesterolaemia (type II-A)

Abstract

The effect of oral calcium carbonate on serum lipoprotein concentrations was tested in 50 children with familial hypercholesterolemia (type II-A) consuming a low cholesterol high polyunsaturated fat diet, using a cross-over design versus a placebo. Cholesterol was measured in serum and in the individual lipoprotein density classes. Serum apolipoprotein B (the protein moiety of low density lipoprotein) and apolipoprotein A-I (the main protein of high density lipoprotein) were measured by specific immunoassays. Calcium carbonate treatment induced only a slight increase in serum apolipoprotein A-I (+4%) and a slight decrease in low density lipoprotein cholesterol (-4%), both changes being significant at the P=0.05 level.