Decalcification of calcium polycarbophil in rats

The in vivo decalcification of calcium polycarbophil was examined. The decalcification ratio of [ 45 Ca]calcium polycarbophil in the stomach after oral dosing to rats was more than 70% at each designated time and quite closely followed the in vitro decalcification curve, indicating that the greater part of the calcium ion is released from calcium polycarbophil under normal gastric acidic conditions. The residual radioactivity in rat gastrointestine was nearly equal to that after oral administration of either [ 45 Ca]calcium chloride or [ 45 Ca]calcium chloride+polycarbophil. The serum level of radioactivity was nearly equal to that after oral dosing of [ 45 Ca]calcium lactate. These results indicate that the greater part of orally administered calcium polycarbophil released calcium ions to produce polycarbophil in vivo.