Demonstrating zinc and iron bioavailability from intrinsically labeled microencapsulated ferrous fumarate and zinc gluconate Sprinkles in young children.
Nutrient-nutrient interactions are an important consideration for any multiple-micronutrient formulation, including Sprinkles, a home-fortification strategy to control anemia. The objectives of this randomized controlled trial were as follows: 1) to compare the absorption of zinc at 2 doses given as Sprinkles; and 2) to examine the effect of zinc and ascorbic acid (AA) on iron absorption from Sprinkles. Seventy-five children aged 12-24 mo were randomly assigned to the following groups: 1) 5 mg of labeled zinc (67Zn) with 50 mg AA (LoZn group); b) 10 mg of labeled zinc (67Zn) with 50 mg AA (HiZn group); or 3) 5 mg zinc with no AA (control). All groups contained 30 mg of labeled iron (57Fe). Intravenous infusions labeled with 70Zn (LoZn and HiZn groups) and 58Fe (control) were administered. Blood was drawn at baseline, 48 h and 14 d later. The percentage of zinc absorbed did not differ between LoZn (geometric mean = 6.4%; min-max: 1.7-14.6) and HiZn (geometric mean = 7.5%; min-max: 3.3-18.0) groups. However, total zinc absorbed was significantly different between the LoZn (geometric mean = 0.31 mg; min-max: 0.08-0.73) and HiZn (geometric mean = 0.82 mg; min-max: 0.33-1.82) groups (P = 0.0004). Geometric mean percentage iron absorption values did not differ between the LoZn (5.9%; min-max: 0.8-21) and HiZn (4.4%; min-max: 0.6-12.3) groups and between the LoZn and control groups (5.0%; min-max: 1.4-24). We conclude that zinc in the form of Sprinkles has a low bioavailability, yet provides adequate amounts of absorbed zinc in young children, and that there is no effect of zinc or AA on iron absorption from the given formulations of Sprinkles.
Zlotkin
Stanley H
SH
Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. stanley.zlotkin@sickkids.ca
Schauer
Claudia
C
Owusu Agyei
Seth
S
Wolfson
Julian
J
Tondeur
Melody C
MC
Asante
Kwaku P
KP
Newton
Samuel
S
Serfass
Robert E
RE
Sharieff
Waseem
W
D000042:Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D001682:Biological Availability; D004032:Diet; D004339:Drug Compounding; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005869:Ghana; D005942:Gluconates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007503:Iron Isotopes / Q000097:blood; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015033:Zinc Isotopes / Q000097:blood
D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D005942:Gluconates; D006454:Hemoglobins; D007503:Iron Isotopes; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D015033:Zinc Isotopes; D015032:Zinc; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; C030691:gluconic acid; C031621:ferrous fumarate