Green tea or rosemary extract added to foods reduces nonheme-iron absorption.
BACKGROUND
Phenolic compounds act as food antioxidants. One of the postulated mechanisms of action is chelation of prooxidant metals, such as iron. Although the antioxidative effect is desirable, this mechanism may impair the utilization of dietary iron.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine the effect of phenolic-rich extracts obtained from green tea or rosemary on nonheme-iron absorption.


METHODS
Young women aged 19-39 y consumed test meals on 4 separate occasions. The meals were identical except for the absence (meal A) or presence (meal B) of a phenolic-rich extract from green tea (study 1; n = 10) or rosemary (study 2; n = 14). The extracts (0.1 mmol) were added to the meat component of the test meals. The meals were extrinsically labeled with either 55Fe or 59Fe and were consumed on 4 consecutive days in the order ABBA or BAAB. Iron absorption was determined by measuring whole-body retention of 59Fe and the ratio of 55Fe to 59Fe activity in blood samples.


RESULTS
The presence of the phenolic-rich extracts resulted in decreased nonheme-iron absorption. Mean (+/-SD) iron absorption decreased from 12.1 +/- 4.5% to 8.9 +/- 5.2% (P < 0.01) in the presence of green tea extract and from 7.5 +/- 4.0% to 6.4 +/- 4.7% (P < 0.05) in the presence of rosemary extract.


CONCLUSIONS
Phenolic-rich extracts used as antioxidants in foods reduce the utilization of dietary iron.
Research Department of Human Nutrition, LMC Centre for Advanced Food Studies, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg, Denmark. s.samman@biochem.usyd.edu.au
S
S
Samman
B
B
Sandström
M B
MB
Toft
K
K
Bukhave
M
M
Jensen
S S
SS
Sørensen
M
M
Hansen
D000328:Adult; D001682:Biological Availability; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D007503:Iron Isotopes / Q000097:blood; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D019686:Lamiaceae / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D013662:Tea / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry
D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D007503:Iron Isotopes; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013662:Tea; D007501:Iron