Because of my post here:
http://bariatricfacts.org/threads/patchmd-who-has-used-them-reviews.2381/page-3 - there is NO published data for calcium by transdermal delivery, and the iron results (ferrous iron is also a +2 ion, same as calcium, copper, zinc and magnesium) involve more complicated mechanical interventions.
Calcium + (transdermal delivery): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=calcium "transdermal delivery"NO RELEVANT RESULTS
In fact, I didn't find anything for this search either "transdermal delivery" (iron OR copper OR calcium OR zinc OR magnesium)" except some references like the one below that involves microneedles for administering transdermal iron, and a patent application from 2010 that also involved patches PLUS electricity, ultrasound, etc. for mechanically causing the iron in the patch to get past the skin. Which is why I doubt the patches actually work for calcium - I didn't find ONE SINGLE reference on PubMed showing it. But here are the search results - I didn't go back more than a couple of years:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=transdermal delivery" (iron OR copper OR calcium OR zinc OR magnesium)
Iron + (transdermal delivery):
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=iron "transdermal delivery"
Full length article - in rats - required prepping the skin with needles:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3578117/
Pharm Res. 2013 Mar;30(3):889-98. doi: 10.1007/s11095-012-0930-2. Epub 2012 Nov 28.
Microporation and 'iron'tophoresis for treating iron deficiency anemia.
Modepalli N1,
Jo S,
Repka MA,
Murthy SN.
Author information
Abstract
PURPOSE:
Iontophoretic mediated transdermal delivery of ferric pyrophosphate (FPP) in combination with microneedle pretreatment was investigated as a potential treatment for iron deficiency anemia (IDA).
METHODS:
In vitro transdermal delivery studies were performed using hairless rat skin and pharmacodynamic studies were performed in hairless anemic rat model. The hematological and biochemical parameters like hemoglobin, hematocrit and % serum transferrin were monitored in rats at healthy, anemic condition and post treatment. Micropores created by the microneedles were visualized in histological skin sections after staining with hemotoxylin and eosin. The recovery of micropores was investigated in vivo by measuring Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) at different time points.
RESULTS:
The passive, microneedle and iontophoresis mediated delivery did not lead to significant improvement in hematological and biochemical parameters in anemic rats, when used individually. When iontophoresis (0.15 mA/cm(2) for 4 hours) was combined with microneedle pretreatment (for 2 min), therapeutically adequate amount of FPP was delivered and there was significant recovery of rats from IDA.
CONCLUSIONS:
Microneedle and iontophoresis mediated delivery of iron via transdermal route could be developed as a potential treatment for IDA. The transdermal controlled delivery of iron could become a potential, safe and effective alternative to parenteral iron therapy.
This is the patent application:
http://www.google.com/patents/US20100130910
"In other embodiments, the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of iron in the form of one or more ferrous salts involves using embodiments of a mechanical apparatus in order to bypass or ablate portions of the stratum corneum. In related embodiments, the methods of the invention provide for the use of ultrasound or iontophoresis to facilitate the permeation of compositions comprising iron (e.g., ferrous salts) through the skin."
"Various embodiments of the invention also contemplate the creation of micro-channels in the stratum corneum and/or other layers of skin (e.g., the epidermis) for enhancing the transdermal delivery of an iron containing compound or other pharmaceutical composition. The micro-channels can be created using several different approaches including by mechanical means, (e.g., through the use of micro-needles or other tissue penetrating element), electrical means (e.g., by an electrostatic discharge to the skin); acoustical means (e.g., the use of high frequency ultrasound delivered to the skin); and chemical means (e.g., the use of permeabilizing agents)."
Seems to me that if these things were really effective, there would be published literature on them.
