title: In Rwandese Women with Low Iron Status, Iron Absorption from Low-Phytic Acid Beans and Biofortified Beans Is Comparable, but Low-Phytic Acid Beans Cause Adverse Gastrointestinal Symptoms.
abstract: Phytic acid (PA) is a major inhibitor of iron bioavailability from beans, and high PA concentrations might limit the positive effect of biofortified beans (BBs) on iron status. Low-phytic acid (lpa) bean varieties could increase iron bioavailability.
  
  
  
  We set out to test whether lpa beans provide more bioavailable iron than a BB variety when served as part of a composite meal in a bean-consuming population with low iron status.
  
  
  
  Dietary iron absorption from lpa, iron-biofortified, and control beans (CBs) (regular iron and PA concentrations) was compared in 25 nonpregnant young women with low iron status with the use of a multiple-meal crossover design. Iron absorption was measured with stable iron isotopes.
  
  
  
  PA concentration in lpa beans was ∼10% of BBs and CBs, and iron concentration in BBs was ∼2- and 1.5-fold compared with CBs and lpa beans, respectively. Fractional iron absorption from lpa beans [8.6% (95% CI: 4.8%, 15.5%)], BBs [7.3% (95% CI: 4.0%, 13.4%)], and CBs [8.0% (95% CI: 4.4%, 14.6%)] did not significantly differ. The total amount of iron absorbed from lpa beans and BBs was 421 μg (95% CI: 234, 756 μg) and 431 μg (95% CI: 237, 786 μg), respectively, and did not significantly differ, but was >50% higher (P < 0.005) than from CBs (278 μg; 95% CI: 150, 499 μg). In our trial, the lpa beans were hard to cook, and their consumption caused transient adverse digestive side effects in ∼95% of participants. Gel electrophoresis analysis showed phytohemagglutinin L (PHA-L) residues in cooked lpa beans.
  
  
  
  BBs and lpa beans provided more bioavailable iron than control beans and could reduce dietary iron deficiency. Digestive side effects of lpa beans were likely caused by PHA-L, but it is unclear to what extent the associated digestive problems reduced iron bioavailability. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02215278.
authors.affiliation: GroundWork, Crans-près-Céligny, Switzerland; nico@groundworkhealth.org.
authors.forename: Nicolai
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Petry
authors.affiliation: GroundWork, Crans-près-Céligny, Switzerland;
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rohner
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Huye, Rwanda;
authors.forename: Jean Bosco
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Gahutu
authors.affiliation: Council for Agricultural Research and Analysis of Agricultural Economics, Montanaso Lombardo, Italy;
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Campion
authors.affiliation: International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, DC; and.
authors.forename: Erick
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boy
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Huye, Rwanda;
authors.forename: Pierrot L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Tugirimana
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michael Bruce
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.affiliation: GroundWork, Crans-près-Céligny, Switzerland;
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zwahlen
authors.affiliation: GroundWork, Crans-près-Céligny, Switzerland;
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Wirth
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moretti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D001682:Biological Availability; D004032:Diet; D004063:Digestion; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D027805:Phaseolus / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D010833:Phytic Acid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012432:Rwanda; D012639:Seeds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D013045:Species Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019266:Iron, Dietary; D010833:Phytic Acid; D007501:Iron
keywords: biofortification; iron; lectins; phaseolus vulgaris; phytic acid; phytohemagglutinin; stable isotope technique