title: Assessment of concentrations of iron and zinc and bioavailable iron in grains of early-maturing tropical maize varieties.
abstract: Twenty elite early-maturing (75-90 days) tropical maize varieties grown in three diverse agroecologies in West Africa were evaluated to identify varieties with high kernel-Fe and -Zn and bioavailable Fe levels. Bioavailable iron was assessed using an in vitro digestion/Caco-2 cell model. Significant (P < 0.001) varietal differences were observed in mean kernel-Fe and -Zn levels. The ranges were 15.5-19.1 mg kg(-)(1) for Fe and 16.5-20.5 mg kg(-)(1) for Zn. Genetic component accounted for 34% of the total variation in kernel-Zn and for 11% of the variation in kernel-Fe levels. Mean bioavailable Fe in varieties ranged between 4% below and 49% above the reference control variety. A significant negative relationship was detected between kernel-P concentration and bioavailable Fe (R = -0.36; P < 0.004; n = 60). Two varieties, ACR90POOL16-DT and ACR86TZESR-W, were identified as the most promising for further evaluation to determine their efficacy as improved sources of iron in target populations.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Plant, Soil, and Nutrition Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cornell University, Tower Road, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Sylvester O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Oikeh
authors.forename: Abebe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Menkir
authors.forename: Bussie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maziya-Dixon
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.forename: Raymond P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Glahn
mesh_terms: D001682:Biological Availability; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D015032:Zinc / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D019266:Iron, Dietary; D015032:Zinc