Relative bioavailability of micronized, dispersible ferric pyrophosphate added to an apple juice drink

The effects of added ascorbic acid and particle size on iron absorption from ferric pyrophosphate were evaluated in adult women (9–10 women/study) based on erythrocyte incorporation of iron stable isotopes (57Fe or 58Fe) 14 days after administration. Three separate studies were made with test meals of iron-fortified infant cereal (5 mg iron/meal) and the results are presented as geometric means and relative bioavailability values (RBV, FeSO4 = 100%). The results of study 1 showed that iron absorption was significantly lower from ferric pyrophosphate (mean particle size 8.5 mum) than from FeSO4 in meals without ascorbic acid (0.9 vs. 2.6%, p < 0.0001, RBV 36%) and in the same meals with ascorbic acid added at a 4:1 molar ratio relative to fortification iron (2.3 vs. 9.7%, p < 0.0001, RBV 23%). Ascorbic acid increased iron absorption from ferric pyrophosphate slightly less (2.6-fold) than from FeSO4 (3.7-fold) (p < 0.05). In studies 2 and 3, RBV of ferric pyrophosphate with an average particle size of 6.7 mum and 12.5 mum was not significantly different at 52 and 42% (p > 0.05), respectively. In conclusion, the addition of ascorbic acid increased fractional iron absorption from ferric pyrophosphate significantly, but to a lesser extent than from FeSO4. Decreasing the mean particle size to 6.7 mum did not significantly increase iron absorption from ferric pyrophosphate.

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A micronised, dispersible ferric pyrophosphate with high relative bioavailability in man

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1079/bjn20041018 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 91 (1) ◽

pp. 107-112 ◽

Cited By ~ 80

Author(s):

Meredith C. Fidler ◽

Thomas Walczyk ◽

Lena Davidsson ◽

Christophe Zeder ◽

Noboru Sakaguchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ferrous Sulfate ◽

Relative Bioavailability ◽

Adult Women ◽

Geometric Means ◽

Ferric Pyrophosphate ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Absorption Studies ◽

Liquid Products ◽

Average Size ◽

Made In

Ferric pyrophosphate is a water-insoluble Fe compound used to fortify infant cereals and chocolate-drink powders as it causes no organoleptic changes to the food vehicle. However, it is only of low absorption in man. Recently, an innovative ferric pyrophosphate has been developed (Sunactive Fe™) based on small-particle-size ferric pyrophosphate (average size 0·3 μm) mixed with emulsifiers, so that it remains in suspension in liquid products. The aim of the present studies was to compare Fe absorption of micronised, dispersible ferric pyrophosphate (Sunactive Fe™) with that of ferrous sulfate in an infant cereal and a yoghurt drink. Two separate Fe absorption studies were made in adult women (ten women/study). Fe absorption was based on the erythrocyte incorporation of stable isotopes (57Fe and58Fe) 14 d after the intake of labelled test meals of infant cereal (study 1) or yoghurt drink (study 2). Each test meal was fortified with 5 mg Fe as ferrous sulfate or micronised, dispersible ferric pyrophosphate. Results are presented as geometric means. There was no statistically significant difference between Fe absorption from micronised, dispersible ferric pyrophosphate- and ferrous sulfate-fortified infant cereal (3·4 and 4·1 % respectively;P=0·24) and yoghurt drink (3·9 and 4·2 % respectively;P=0·72). The results of the present studies show that micronised, dispersible ferric pyrophosphate is as well absorbed as ferrous sulfate in adults. The high relative Fe bioavailability of micronised, dispersible ferric pyrophosphate indicates the potential usefulness of this compound for food fortification.

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Iron status and food matrix strongly affect the relative bioavailability of ferric pyrophosphate in humans

The FASEB Journal ◽

10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a625-a ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Diego Moretti ◽

Michael Zimmermann ◽

Rita Wegmüller ◽

Thomas Walczyk ◽

Christophe Zeder ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Iron Status ◽

Relative Bioavailability ◽

Food Matrix ◽

Ferric Pyrophosphate

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Rice Fortified with Iron Given Weekly Increases Hemoglobin Levels and Reduces Anemia in Infants: a Community Intervention Trial

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831/a000145 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 83 (1) ◽

pp. 59-66 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Francisco Plácido Nogueira Arcanjo ◽

Paulo Roberto Santos ◽

Álvaro Jorge Madeiro Leite ◽

Francisco Sulivan Bastos Mota ◽

Sérgio Duarte Segall

Keyword(s):

Community Intervention ◽

Capillary Blood ◽

Number Needed To Treat ◽

Intervention Trial ◽

Day Care Centers ◽

Control Center ◽

Ferric Pyrophosphate ◽

Child Day Care ◽

Child Day Care Centers ◽

The Impact

More than two billion people suffer from anemia worldwide, and it is estimated that more than 50 % of cases are caused by iron deficiency. In this community intervention trial, we evaluated infants aged 10 to 23 months of age (n = 171) from two public child day-care centers. Intervention lasted 18 weeks. The 50-g individual portion (uncooked) of fortified rice provided 56.4 mg of elemental iron as ferric pyrophosphate. Capillary blood samples to test for anemia were taken at baseline and at endpoint. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of rice fortified with iron (Ultrarice®) on hemoglobin and anemia prevalence compared with standard household rice. For the fortified rice center, baseline mean hemoglobin was 113.7 ± 9.2 g/L, and at endpoint 119.5 ± 7.7 g/L, p < 0.0001; for the standard rice center, baseline mean hemoglobin value was 113.5 ± 40.7 g/L, and at endpoint 113.6 ± 21.0, p = 0.99. Anemia prevalence for the fortified rice center was 27.8 % (20/72) at baseline, and 11.1 % (8/72) at endpoint, p = 0.012; for the control center, 47.1 % (33/70) were anemic at baseline, and 37.1 % (26/70) at the end of the study, p = 0.23. The Number Needed to Treat (NNT) was 4. In this intervention, rice fortified with iron given weekly was effective in increasing hemoglobin levels and reducing anemia in infants.

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