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Biofortified maize (Zea mays L.) provides more bioavailable iron than standard maize: Studies in poultry (Gallus gallus) and an in vitro digestion/Caco‐2 model
Author(s) -
Tako Elad,
Hoekenga Owen A,
Kochian Leon V,
Glahn Raymond P
Publication year - 2012
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.26.1_supplement.1019.1
Subject(s) - bioavailability , biofortification , food science , chemistry , ferroportin , ferritin , agronomy , zoology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , biochemistry , micronutrient , metabolism , bioinformatics , organic chemistry , iron homeostasis
Iron biofortification is a strategy that alleviates Fe deficiency by improving staple crops, such as maize. Previously, we demonstrated that by using a Caco2 cell model, two maize varieties were developed for high and low Fe bioavailability, yet with similar Fe concentrations. In vitro and in vivo assessments of Fe bioavailability in these lines showed an advantage to the high Fe variety. In the current study, we tested bioavailable Fe in the consecutive growth cycles of these maize lines, in addition we compared the Fe bioavailability between cooked and raw maize +/− added Fe in the maize based diets. Diets were made with 75% w/w maize of either the low (“Low”) or high (“High”) Fe bioavailability maize. Chicks (n=10) were fed the maize diets for 7 weeks. Hemoglobin (Hb), body weight, feed consumption, liver ferritin and gene expression were measured. Duodenal DMT1, Dcytb and ferroportin were higher (P<0.05) in the “Low” groups vs. the “High” groups, indicating adaptation to the “Low” diets. Hb concentrations, Hb‐maintenance efficiency, Hb‐Fe and liver ferritin were higher in the “High“ groups vs. the “Low” groups (P<0.05), indicating greater Fe absorption from the diet and improved Fe status. We conclude that the “High” variety contains more bioavailable Fe than the ”Low” and that maize shows promise for Fe biofortification. Also, the increased Fe bioavailability quality is kept in the biofortified maize daughter lines.