Iron absorption from a traditional Sri Lankan weaning food and the enhancing effect of ascorbic acid in adult male volunteers.
OBJECTIVE
To study absorption of iron from Centella gruel and the enhancing effect of ascorbic acid in young adult males.


METHODS
An in vivo absorption study.


METHODS
Faculty of Medicine, Galle.


METHODS
The percentage of iron absorbed from the Centella gruel was measured using a double isotope technique with 55Fe and 59Fe on 10 healthy male volunteers.


METHODS
Percentage of iron absorption from the gruel with and without ascorbic acid.


RESULTS
The mean iron absorption from each meal of Centella gruel was 2.2% (SEM 0.8). This increased to 5% (SEM 1.6) by addition of 50 mg ascorbic acid. When ingested with ascorbic acid, the bioavailable nutrient density (BND) of the weaning food was increased from 0.23 to 0.53 mg iron/1,000 kcal. To satisfy the daily physiological requirements of iron in infants and toddlers, it was calculated that apart from ascorbic acid supplementation, the total iron content also needs to be increased from 2.05 mg to 4.0 mg/meal.


CONCLUSIONS
Centella gruel cannot provide the amount of iron to meet the BND for iron required by infants and toddlers, unless supplemented with an enhancer of iron absorption such as ascorbic acid and its total iron content is increased.
Liyanage
C
C
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, Galle, Sri Lanka.
Goonaratna
C
C
Thabrew
I
I
D000328:Adult; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D001682:Biological Availability; D002523:Edible Grain; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D013188:Sri Lanka
D019266:Iron, Dietary; D001205:Ascorbic Acid