Dietary intake of pearl millet based weaning food supplemented with iron and vitamin A enhances bioavailability of vitamin A in anemic rats.

The study was aimed to assess vitamin A bioavailability and allergenicity of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) based weaning food (PMWF) fortified with iron and retinyl acetate in male Wistar albino rats. Animals (n = 64) were divided into Normal (NG) and Anemic (AG) groups; further sub-divided into 4 sub-groups having 8 animals each receiving synthetic diet, commercial diet, iron fortified PMWF diet and iron (150.00 ± 0.73 ppm) plus retinyl acetate (393.00 ± 3.07 µg/100 g) fortified PMWF diet (Final diet). Results revealed that anemic sub-groups showed apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) in the range of 69.5 ± 0.40-93.2 ± 0.79%, which was significantly (P < 0.01) higher than normal sub-groups (65.5 ± 0.62-84.6 ± 0.33%). In both groups, rats fed final diet presented significantly (P < 0.01) higher ADC (84.6 ± 0.33-93.2 ± 0.79%) than that of animals received iron fortified diet (69.0 ± 0.59-76.1 ± 1.02%), indicating higher bioavailability of vitamin A in final diet. Moreover, hepatic vitamin A replenished rapidly in anemic groups (1.79-27.8) when compared to normal rats (1.11-19.4 µg/g liver). Immunoglobulins IgG, IgE in blood serum and IgA in intestinal fluid ranged from 574 ± 6.48 to 603 ± 9.76 µg/ml, 287 ± 4.46 to 309 ± 5.70 ng/ml and 204 ± 10.33 to 255 ± 13.22 µg/ml, respectively. However, no significant (P > 0.05) difference was observed between the groups and/or subgroups, suggesting no allergic response of final diet. Stimulation index triggered by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) ranged from 1.22 ± 0.06 to 1.45 ± 0.09 µg ml-1 in normal sub-groups and 1.16 ± 0.02 to 1.33 ± 0.03 µg ml-1 in anemic sub-groups with no significant (P > 0.05) difference among them. Overall, it can be concluded that retinyl acetate could be an effective fortificant to improve the status of vitamin A in anemic models.

In vivo assessment of iron bioavailability from fortified pearl millet based weaning food.

BACKGROUND: Iron is an essential micronutrient required for normal growth and development of the body. Infants are more vulnerable to develop iron-deficiency anaemia due to inadequate iron supply in early stages. The objective of the study was in vivo assessment of iron bioavailability from pearl millet based weaning food fortified with iron and vitamin A, and to investigate the role of vitamin A in iron absorption in animal models. RESULTS: Results revealed that anaemic group showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher bioavailability than that of normal rat models. Animals fed vitamin A supplemented pearl-millet diet exhibited comparable results with a sub-group provided commercially available weaning diet in both normal and anaemic groups, but significantly (P < 0.05) higher values for studied biological indices than that of a sub-group provided iron fortified pearl-millet or synthetic diet. When the anaemic rats were provided iron + vitamin A fortified diet, iron bioavailability increased and liver iron stores returned to the normal levels after 30 days, indicating a promoter role of vitamin A in intestinal iron absorption. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, bioavailability of electrolytic iron could be improved by supplementation of vitamin A, and this mixture can be considered as a useful fortificant for pearl millet based complementary foods fortification designed to prevent iron deficiency. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.