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A Caco‐2 cell model predicts relative iron absorption from tropical maize by women
Author(s) -
Beiseigel Jeannemarie M.,
Glahn Raymond,
Welch Ross M.,
Menkir Abebe,
MaziyaDixon Bussie B.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a624-b
Subject(s) - bioavailability , meal , chemistry , zoology , orange (colour) , cultivar , absorption (acoustics) , ferritin , food science , botany , biology , biochemistry , bioinformatics , physics , acoustics
Fe absorption from the tropical maize variety, ACR90POOL16‐DT (ACR), previously found to have similar Fe content, but higher Fe bioavailability in vitro , was compared with a control variety, TZB‐SR (TZB), in 26 non‐anemic women, 21–48 y, with serum ferritin 3‐248 μg/L. Porridge made from 50 g dw corn with extrinsic 55 Fe or 59 Fe was consumed w/wo orange juice (~40 mg ascorbate; AA). Fe absorption, determined from 14‐d isotope retention in whole body and blood, did not differ between ACR [2.2% (1.7, 2.7); geom. mean (± 1 SEM)] and TZB [2.0% (1.6, 2.5)]. With the difference in Fe content (840 vs. 710 μg/meal), Fe absorbed from ACR tended to be higher than TZB [18 (15, 23) vs. 14 (11, 18) μg/meal; P = 0.07]. AA greatly increased (P<0.0001) Fe absorbed from ACR [58 μg (46, 73)] and TZB meals [51 μg (41, 64)], again with unsubstantial differences between varieties. Tested with the Caco‐2 model, identical meals induced no difference in ferritin formation (ng/mg cell protein) between varieties alone (ACR 33 ± 4 vs. TZB 37 ± 10; mean ± SD) or with AA (ACR 174 ± 34 vs. TZB 165 ± 37). The absorption ratio in humans (3.4 w/wo AA) was closely predicted by the Caco‐2 model (2.7) using the conversion of Yun et al (J Nutr, 2004). Small differences in Fe content or bioavailability between cultivars may not persist across growing seasons. AA‐rich foods can substantially enhance Fe absorption and the Caco‐2 model is a valid tool for predicting this enhancement. Funded by IITA, USAID and USDA‐ARS.