Absorption of fortification iron from milk formulas in infants.
The bioavailability of iron added to different types of cows' milk formulas was studied using mono-isotopic and double-isotopic methods in 396 infants aged 5-18 mo. All the milk formulas were fortified with ferrous sulfate in concentrations varying between 10 and 19 mg elemental iron/liter. Iron absorption from low-fat milks and full-fat milks varied from 2.9 to 5.1%. A higher range of mean absorption, 5.9 to 11.3%, was observed in the same formulas with the addition of ascorbic acid at concentrations of 100 mg/l or higher (up to 800 mg/l), demonstrating its enhancing effect on iron absorption in fortified milks. The amount of milk fat, the addition of carbohydrates, or acidification did not seem to influence iron absorption.
D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D002677:Chile; D003611:Dairy Products; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk; D009753:Nutritive Value; D012588:Scintillation Counting; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis
D006454:Hemoglobins; D014168:Transferrin; D007501:Iron; D001205:Ascorbic Acid