title: Bioavailability of micronutrients: stable isotope techniques to develop effective food-based strategies to combat micronutrient deficiencies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies, in particular those of iron, vitamin A, iodine, and zinc, is unacceptably high, especially among infants, children, and women of childbearing age in developing countries. Effective food-based strategies to combat these public health problems are therefore urgently needed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  As only a fraction of dietary iron, zinc, and provitamin A carotenoids is absorbed and utilized, i.e., bioavailable, access to information on micronutrient bioavailability is crucial in the development of food fortification strategies and interventions based on dietary diversification.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This overview highlights the usefulness of stable isotope techniques to assess the bioavailability of nonheme iron and provitamin A carotenoids and the importance of generating data on micronutrient bioavailability to move the agenda forward.
authors: I Nutritional and Environmental Health-Related Studies Section, Division of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, PO Box 100, A- 1400 Vienna, Austria. l.davidsson@iaea.org
authors: Lena
authors: L
authors: Davidsson
authors: Marjorie
authors: M
authors: Haskell
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001682:Biological Availability; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003906:Developing Countries; D005527:Food, Fortified / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D007553:Isotope Labeling / Q000379:methods; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health; D014131:Trace Elements; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D019266:Iron, Dietary; D018977:Micronutrients; D014131:Trace Elements; D002338:Carotenoids