Longitudinal measurements of zinc absorption in Peruvian children consuming wheat products fortified with iron only or iron and 1 of 2 amounts of zinc.
BACKGROUND
Information is needed on the fractional absorption of zinc (FAZ) and absorbed zinc (AZ) during prolonged exposure to zinc-fortified foods.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to measure FAZ and AZ from diets fortified with different amounts of zinc and to determine whether zinc absorption changes over approximately 7 wk.


METHODS
Forty-one stunted, moderately anemic children received daily, at breakfast and lunch, 100 g wheat products fortified with 3 mg Fe (ferrous sulfate) and 0 (group Zn-0), 3 (group Zn-3), or 9 (group Zn-9) mg Zn (zinc sulfate) per 100 g flour. FAZ was measured on days 2-3 and 51-52; meal-specific AZs were calculated as the product of FAZ and zinc intake.


RESULTS
For the breakfast and lunch meals combined, mean total zinc intakes were 2.14, 4.72, and 10.04 mg/d in groups Zn-0, Zn-3, and Zn-9, respectively, during the initial absorption studies; mean (+/-SD) FAZ values were 0.341 +/- 0.111, 0.237 +/- 0.052, and 0.133 +/- 0.041, respectively, on days 2-3 (P < 0.001) and did not change significantly on days 51-52 in the subset of 31 children studied twice. Mean initial AZ was positively related to zinc intake (0.71 +/- 0.18, 1.11 +/- 0.21, and 1.34 +/- 0.47 mg/d, respectively; P < 0.001); final values did not differ significantly from the initial values.


CONCLUSIONS
AZ from meals containing zinc-fortified wheat products increases in young children relative to the level of fortification and changes only slightly during approximately 7-wk periods of consumption. Although consumption of zinc-fortified foods may reduce FAZ, zinc fortification at the levels studied positively affects total daily zinc absorption, even after nearly 2 mo of exposure to zinc-fortified diets.
López de Romaña
Daniel
D
Program in International Nutrition and the Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
Salazar
Maricela
M
Hambidge
K Michael
KM
Penny
Mary E
ME
Peerson
Janet M
JM
Krebs
Nancy F
NF
Brown
Kenneth H
KH
D001682:Biological Availability; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005433:Flour; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007553:Isotope Labeling; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry*; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
D005296:Ferrous Compounds; C020748:ferrous sulfate; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc