• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.135-148
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• 2005

This study was conducted to investigate the bioavailability of calcium derived from starfish as a new calcium source. Four-week old Sprague-Dawley female rats were divided 6 groups. The rats were received experimental diets containing two kinds of Ca sources, CaCO₃ or starfish, and three levels of Ca, low (0.1 %), medium (0.5%) and high (1.0%), respectively, for 6 weeks. The parameters which related to Ca bioavailability were measured : Serum Ca concentration, Alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and GOT activities ; tissue Ca contents, bone dimension and Ca, P, Mg contents; Ca retention and apparent absorption. Starfish Ca-fed rats did not show any difference from CaCO₃-fed rats in terms of growth, food intake and FER. Serum Ca, ALP and GOT activities as well as tissue Ca contents were not different between CaCO₃- and starfish Ca-fed groups. Although dimension of femur and lumbar was not different between CaCO₃- and starfish Ca-fed rats, ash content was high in starfish Ca-fed rats. Ca and P contents of femur and lumbar were not different between both groups. Starfish Ca-fed groups showed higher Mg contents than CaCO₃-fed groups in both femur and lumbar. Ca absorption rate and retention rate were significantly higher in starfish Ca-fed rats. These results indicate that Ca derived starfish did not show any negative effect on growth and Ca metabolism of rats compared to calcium carbonate. Starfish Ca can be recommended as a good Ca source on the basis of higher Ca absorption and bioavailability.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.727-734
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• 2012

For developing calcium supplement from the harmful marine organism starfish, the physiochemical property of the powdered starfish skeletal plate and the hydrolysis condition of the starfish digestive enzyme were studied. The optimal hydrolysis condition of the starfish digestive enzymes was at $55^{\circ}C$ for 12 h. The bulk densities of the powdered starfish skeletal plates of Asterias amurensis and Asterina pectinifera were $1.1{\pm}0.0$ and $1.2{\pm}0.0g/cm^3$, respectively. As for the median size, the values were 10.738 and $11.799{\mu}m$, respectively. According to the added concentration of sodium polyacrylate, the dispersibility rate of the powdered starfish skeletal plate was shown to be 6h at 0.0%, 3 days at 0.1%, 20 days at 0.2%, and until 30 days at 0.4%. The elementary composition of the powdered starfish skeletal plates from A. amurensis and A. pectinifera mainly consisted of calcium, and it formed 98.95 and 98.52% of the powdered starfish skeletal plates, respectively. The results of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that they were present in the form of $CaCO_3$. Based on these results, it is suggested that starfish skeletal plate can be utilized as a functional material for a calcium supplement.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.832-839
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• 2007

This study was conducted to investigate the bioavailability of starfish calcium with substances enhancing calcium absorption. Three week-old young female rats (Sprague-Barley) were divided into 5 groups according to calcium sources and testing agents; calcium carbonate (C), starfish calcium (S), starfish calcium + casein phosphopeptide (S-CPP), starfish calcium+citrate-malate (S-CM), starfish calcium+isoflavone (S-ISO), and were fed experimental diets containing AIN-93G based Ca (0.35% w/w) diet with CPP, CM and ISO for 6 weeks. Blood, femur, urine and feces samples were collected. There was no significant difference among groups in terms of growth and food intake. Serum Ca concentrations were normal in all 5 groups. Serum P concentrations and ALP activities were not significantly different among groups. Ca absorption and retention were significantly increased both in S-CPP and S-CM groups compared to C group (p<0.05). p absorption was significantly higher in S-CPP group than in other groups. While the amount of soluble Ca of intestinal contents did not differ among groups, the amount of insoluble Ca was significantly lower in S-CPP, S-CM and S-ISO groups than in C and S groups. However, the weight, Ca and P concentrations of femur were not significantly different among groups. These results suggest that the addition of CPP and citrate-malate were more effective for enhancing the bioavailability, intestinal absorption and solubility of starfish calcium.

• Radioisotope journal
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.33-37
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• 2006

A fertilizer mixed with an electron beam irradiated sewage sludge and a starfish powder was developed. By the irradiation of sewage sledge, it could be hygienic from harmful microorganism and be free from Rely nucleonic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). The quality of fertilizer mainly consisted of electron beam irradiated sewage sledge could be enhanced by addition of starfish powder rich in organic calcium ion. The growth rate for a grass and a rose tree was enhanced about 35% when a fertilizer applied. By the development of new type of fertilizer, a large amount of sewage sledge and star fish con be utilized as a fertilizer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.497-504
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• 2013

This study examined the characteristics of ionized calcium and in vitro calcium bioavailability rate of calcium from four natural sources: shellfish shell, oyster shell, starfish, egg shell. The levels of dissolved calcium and calcium ions increased at different concentrations of natural calcium (up to 8.0% (w/v)). However, there were insignificant differences in the levels of dissolved calcium and calcium ions between samples at calcium concentrations above 8.0% (w/v). In addition, no significant differences were observed (depending on the calcium source and concentration) with an ionization yield of about 90%. The temperature of the solutions also had little influence on the ionization of calcium. The highest calcium ion content was observed when solutions were left to dissolve calcium for 18 hours. The highest in vitro calcium bioavailability rate achieved among the different calcium solutions was BS (67.3%), with overall bioavailability rates about two times higher than the rates observed in commercially sold calcium supplements and natural calcium. In addition, the in vitro calcium bioavailability rate for ionized calcium in market milk, soy milk, and orange juice was more than twice as high as calcium carbonate. Overall, we expect a high and diverse bioavailability of ionized calcium from natural resources.