Oyster shells are a usefull natural Calcium source for food as well as
animal feed application. Fresh oyster shells are, however, available only in
limited amounts and have the disadvantage that due to organic constituents a
contamination with Salmonella can often not be excluded.
Fortunately, in the region of the Baltic Sea large deposits of fossile
oyster shells exist. The shells are several thousand years old, they have
preserved their original shape almost completely but are totally free of organic
residues. Heating and grinding of the shells yields a fine powder, which
consists basically of Calcium carbonate but which has preserved a particle
structure typical for oyster shells. Oyster shell powder is easy to tablet.
The ingestion of Oyster shell powder tablets has been found to increase the
Calcium blood level and to reduce at the same time the phosphate level. This has
lead to their use in dialysis centers where the tablets are administered to
patients with renal failure (SLATOPOLSKY, 1986). An additional advantage is the
good compatibility of oyster shell powder. Stomach problems common with other
Calcium preparations do not occur with this product.
References
SLATOPOLSKY, E. et al., 1986: Calcium carbonate as a phosphate binder in
patients with chronic renal failure. The New England Journal of Medicine, Vol.
315, No. 3, 157-161
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