A simple and reliable method for calcium balance using combined period and continuous fecal markers

Calcium balances were determined in 13 patients during 2–4 3-day periods following both period marking (with carmine) and continuous marking (with polyethylene glycol or chromium). The reliability coefficient for the uncorrected fecal calcium (obtained from period marking) from one period to another was 0.82, whereas it was 0.97 for corrected fecal calcium (determined from recovery of continuous marker in 3-day fecal pools). Thus, the addition of continuous marking yielded a significantly more reliable measure of fecal calcium than obtainable by the use of period marking alone (p < 0.05); the error variance for corrected fecal calcium from one period to another was 3%, whereas it was 18% for uncorrected fecal calcium. It is concluded that a reliable measure of fecal calcium, and hence calcium balance, could be obtained by combined use of continuous and period markers, involving fecal collection over only one 3-day study period (marked by period marker), and correction of fecal calcium for the completeness of fecal collection (determined from continuous fecal marker).