Bioavailability of iron from novel hydrogen reduced iron powders: Studies in Caco-2 cells and rat model.

The bioavailability of iron from elemental iron powders, including hydrogen reduced iron powder (HRIP), is influenced by particle size and surface area. In the present study, we investigated the solubility, bioaccessibility, and bioavailability of iron from novel HRIPs (particle size ≤25 and 38 µm generated at low [LT] and high [HT] temperature), with porous morphology and high surface area, in intestinal Caco-2 cells and in rat models. The acceptability of fortified wheat flour was tested in human volunteers. The iron solubility and ferritin induction in Caco-2 cells were significantly higher from wheat flour fortified with HRIPs compared to electrolytic iron powder (EIP, ≤45 µm size) either in the absence or presence of ascorbic acid. Nevertheless, ferritin induction in Caco-2 cells was significantly higher with FeSO4 compared to HRIP or EIP. The relative biological value of HRIPs was significantly higher (≤38HT) or similar compared to EIP in rats. However, serum ferritin was significantly higher in rats fed HRIPs than EIP. Further, wheat flour fortified with HRIP was found to be acceptable for consumption. These findings demonstrate higher iron bioavailability from novel HRIPs compared to the reference EIP (≤45 µm) and merits further studies on toxicity and efficacy. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The use of elemental iron powders for food fortification to alleviate iron deficiency is limited due to its poor bioavailability. The novel hydrogen-reduced elemental iron powders used in this study had higher bioaccessibility and bioavailability compared to reference EIP (≤45 µm) in in vitro and in vivo models, respectively. Further, there were no sensory differences between roti prepared with fortified or unfortified wheat flour. These results suggest that the novel hydrogen reduced elemental iron powders used in the present study are suitable for wheat flour fortification.

Dietary adequacy and nutritional status of Meitei community of Manipur, Northeast India.

Meitei is the main ethnic community that belongs to the north-eastern state of Manipur in India. This community is bestowed with rich biodiverse resources with indigenous foods still form an integral part of their diet. However, limited data on the food and nutrient consumption as well as nutritional status of this community are available. This study was carried out on the children, adolescents and women of reproductive age (WRA) of this community from 12 villages, to determine their food consumption pattern and nutritional status. Basic anthropometry and 24-h dietary intake assessment was conducted. The prevalence of underweight was 27%, stunting was 45% and wasting was 12% in children below 5 years. Stunting was observed among 34% of children 5-17 years of age. About 7% of WRA were undernourished, while 28% were overweight or obese. About 55% of 1-7 year-old children had mean probability adequacy of 12 micronutrients <0.5, and the adequacy of individual micronutrients namely vitamin A, E and calcium were low. Dietary determinants such as low dietary diversity score, dietary species richness and the lowest tertiles of different food groups' intake (except for sugars, fish and sea foods and spices and condiments) predicted micronutrient inadequacy. In addition to a high prevalence of undernutrition in children and adolescents and overnutrition in WRA, the effect of various dietary determinants on micronutrient adequacy in the study group of the Meitei community are reported.

High dietary micronutrient inadequacy in peri-urban school children from a district in South India: Potential for staple food fortification and nutrient supplementation.

Multiple micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs) co-exist, often because of poor intakes and adversely impact health. Habitual diets were assessed in 300 school children (6-17 years old) recruited from two government schools by simple random sampling. Probability of adequacy (PA) for 11 micronutrients and mean probability of adequacy (MPA) was calculated. Haemoglobin, plasma ferritin, folic acid, vitamin B12 and C-reactive protein were estimated. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were used to estimate magnitude and factors associated with MNDs. The contribution of fortified foods and/or supplements in addressing inadequacies and excessive intakes was modelled. The PA ranged from 0.04 for folate to 0.70 for zinc, and the MPA was 0.27. Prevalence of anaemia (53%), iron deficiency (57%; ID), iron deficiency anaemia (38%; IDA), folate deficiency (24%) and B12 deficiency (43%) was high. Dietary inadequacy of iron, zinc and a low MPA was associated with anaemia and IDA. Inclusion of double fortified salt (DFS), fortified rice (FR) or iron folic acid (IFA) supplements individually in habitual diet reduced probability of iron inadequacy significantly from 82% to ≤13%. Inclusion of DFS and FR simultaneously led to disappearance of iron inadequacy, but risk of excessive intake increased to 16%. Inclusion of DFS, FR and IFA together increased risk of excess iron intake to 40%. Nevertheless, intakes of folate and B12 remained inadequate even with FR and/or IFA. These results indicate a high risk of dietary MNDs in children and suggest need for more systematic intake measurements in representative sample and adjustment of iron dosages to avoid excessive intakes.