title: Improved iron bioavailability in an oat-based beverage: the combined effect of citric acid addition, dephytinization and iron supplementation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Iron deficiency in children is a major worldwide nutritional problem. An oat beverage was developed for 1- to 3-year-old children and different treatments were used to improve the iron bioavailability.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of citric acid addition, phytase treatment and supplementation with different iron compounds on non-heme iron absorption in human from a mineral-supplemented oat-based beverage.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 240 g portion of a 55Fe-labeled test product (T) or a 59Fe-labeled reference dose (R) was served as breakfast after overnight fasting on four consecutive days in the order of TRRT. On day 18 the retention of 59Fe was measured by a whole-body counter and the erythrocytes uptake of 55Fe and 59Fe by a liquid-scintillation counter. Forty-two healthy subjects (men and women) were randomized into four study groups, members of each being given one of the studied four products (A, B, C, and D) supplemented with Fe (1.3 mg/portion), Zn, Ca, Se and P. Ferric ammonium citrate (FeAC) was added to products A, B, and C and ferric pyrophosphate (FePP) to product D. Citric acid (60 mg/portion) was added to products B, C, and D and phytase treatment applied to products C and D.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Citric acid improved iron absorption by 54% from 3.9% in product A to 6.0% in product B (p = 0.051). Phytase treatment increased iron absorption by 78% (from 6.0 to 10.7%, p = 0.003) by reducing the phytate-phosphorus content per portion from 16.3 mg in product B to 2.8 mg in product C. The two compounds gave similar iron absorption rates (p = 0.916).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A combination of citric acid addition, dephytinization and iron supplementation significantly increased the iron absorption in an oat-based beverage. Such a beverage can be useful in the prevention of iron deficiency in 1- to 3-year-old children.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Nutrition, P.O. Box 124, Centre for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, 22100 Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Huanmei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Onning
authors.forename: Rickard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oste
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gramatkovski
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hulthén
mesh_terms: D010832:6-Phytase / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy; D018554:Avena / Q000737:chemistry*; D001628:Beverages; D001682:Biological Availability; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D007504:Iron Radioisotopes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008297:Male; D010833:Phytic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007504:Iron Radioisotopes; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D019343:Citric Acid; D010833:Phytic Acid; D010832:6-Phytase