title: Evidence for an enhancing effect of alginate on iron availability in Caco-2 cells.
abstract: The potential use of alginates as a vehicle for water-soluble (bioavailable) iron for fortifying food products was examined using a Caco-2 cell model system. Cell monolayers were exposed to alginates with various mannuronic to guluronic acid ratios at three different concentrations, and cellular ferritin was measured as a surrogate marker of iron uptake into the cell. Ferritin concentrations were significantly higher when the cells were treated with ferric ammonium citrate and 0.5 and 1% w/v (but not 0.1%) alginate, but were unaffected by mannuronic/guluronic acid ratios. The enhancing effect of ascorbic acid was maintained with 0.1% alginate and significantly increased with 0.5 and 1% alginate, whereas the inhibitory effect of tannic acid was significantly reduced with 0.5% alginate. Alginate beads delivered available iron to Caco-2 cells, indicating that they are a promising vehicle for soluble iron with potential use in food fortification programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Anna A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Wawer
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Perez-Moral
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Fairweather-Tait
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001682:Biological Availability; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D005293:Ferritins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron