title: Influence of ascorbic acid on iron absorption from an iron-fortified, chocolate-flavored milk drink in Jamaican children.
abstract: The influence of ascorbic acid on iron absorption from an iron-fortified, chocolate-flavored milk drink (6.3 mg total Fe per serving) was evaluated with a stable-isotope technique in 20 6-7-y-old Jamaican children. Each child received two test meals labeled with 5.6 mg 57Fe and 3.0 mg 58Fe as ferrous sulfate on 2 consecutive days. Three different doses of ascorbic acid (0, 25, and 50 mg per 25-g serving) were evaluated in two separate studies by using a crossover design. Iron isotope ratios were measured by negative thermal ionization mass spectrometry. In the first study, iron absorption was significantly greater (P < 0.0001) after the addition of 25 mg ascorbic acid: geometric mean iron absorption was 1.6% (range: 0.9-4.2%) and 5.1% (2.2-17.3%) for the test meals containing 0 and 25 mg ascorbic acid, respectively. In the second study, a significant difference (P < 0.05) in iron absorption was observed when the ascorbic acid content was increased from 25 to 50 mg: geometric mean iron absorption was 5.4% (range: 2.7-10.8%) compared with 7.7% (range: 4.7-16.5%), respectively. The chocolate drink contained relatively high amounts of polyphenolic compounds, phytic acid, and calcium, all well-known inhibitors of iron absorption. The low iron absorption without added ascorbic acid shows that chocolate milk is a poor vehicle for iron fortification unless sufficient amounts of an iron-absorption enhancer are added. Regular consumption of iron-fortified chocolate milk drinks containing added ascorbic acid could have a positive effect on iron nutrition in population groups vulnerable to iron deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Human Nutrition, Institute of Food Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Rüschlikon. davidsson@ilw.agrl.ethz.ch
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Davidsson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Walczyk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Hurrell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002099:Cacao; D002648:Child; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D005504:Food Analysis; D005527:Food, Fortified / Q000032:analysis; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D007563:Jamaica; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron; D001205:Ascorbic Acid