Effect of dephytinization on bioavailability of iron, calcium and zinc from infant cereals assessed in the Caco-2 cell model.
OBJECTIVE
To test the effect of the dephytinization of three different commercial infant cereals on iron, calcium, and zinc bioavailability by estimating the uptake, retention, and transport by Caco-2 cells.


METHODS
Both dephytinized (by adding an exogenous phytase) and non-dephytinized infant cereals were digested using an in vitro digestion protocol adapted to the gastrointestinal conditions of infants younger than 6 mo. Mineral cell retention, transport, and uptake from infant cereals were measured using the soluble fraction of the simulated digestion and the Caco-2 cells.


RESULTS
Dephytinization of infant cereals significantly increased (P < 0.05) the cell uptake efficiency (from 0.66%-6.05% to 3.93%-13%), retention (from 6.04%-16.68% to 14.75%-20.14%) and transport efficiency (from 0.14%-2.21% to 1.47%-6.02%), of iron, and the uptake efficiency (from 5.0%-35.4% to 7.3%-41.6%) and retention (from 4.05%-20.53% to 14.45%-61.3%) of zinc, whereas calcium only cell uptake showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) after removing phytate from most of the samples analyzed. A positive relationship (P < 0.05) between mineral solubility and the cell uptake and transport efficiencies was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Removing phytate from infant cereals had a beneficial effect on iron and zinc bioavailability when infant cereals were reconstituted with water. Since in developing countries cereal-based complementary foods for infants are usually consumed mixed with water, exogenous phytase additions could improve the nutritional value of this weaning food.
Frontela
Carmen
C
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Science and Food Science and Technology, Murcia University, Murcia, Spain. carmenfr@um.es
Scarino
Maria-Laura
ML
Ferruzza
Simonetta
S
Ros
Gaspar
G
Martínez
Carmen
C
D018938:Caco-2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000378:metabolism*; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007295:Inositol Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000378:metabolism*; D010833:Phytic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*
D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D007295:Inositol Phosphates; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D010833:Phytic Acid; D015032:Zinc