An Overview of Methods for Assessment of Iron Bioavailability from Foods Nutritionally Enhanced Through Biotechnology

Abstract Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia continue to be significant public health problems worldwide. While supplementation and fortification have been viable means to improve iron nutriture of the population in developed countries, they may be less successful in developing regions for a number of reasons, including complexities in distribution and consumer compliance. Biofortification of staple crops, through conventional plant breeding strategies or modern methods of biotechnology, provides an alternative approach that may be more sustainable once initial investments have been made. Three types of biofortification strategies are being essayed, singly or in combination: increasing the total iron content of edible portions of the plant, decreasing the levels of inhibitors of iron absorption, and increasing the levels of factors that enhance iron absorption. Bioavailability is a key concept in iron nutrition, particularly for nonheme iron such as is found in these biofortified foods. An overview is presented of methods for evaluation of iron bioavailability from foods nutritionally enhanced through biotechnology.

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Herbs as a dietary source of iron

Nutrition & Food Science ◽

10.1108/nfs-09-2013-0107 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 44 (5) ◽

pp. 443-454

Author(s):

Swarnim Gupta ◽

Krishnapillai Madhavan Nair ◽

Ravinder Punjal ◽

Ananthan Rajendran ◽

Raghu Pullakhandam

Keyword(s):

Ascorbic Acid ◽

Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Absorption ◽

Compositional Analysis ◽

Iron Bioavailability ◽

Lepidium Sativum ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Asparagus Racemosus ◽

Content Type ◽

Amaranthus Paniculatus

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to screen for iron bioavailability and absorption-promoting activity in selected herbs. Evidence is needed to promote and practice food-based strategies such as use of plants or their parts for treating iron deficiency anemia. Design/methodology/approach – Eight Indian herbs, considered to be iron rich and/or hematinic, namely, Boerhavia diffusa, Trachyspermum ammi, Amaranthus paniculatus, Lepidium sativum, Medicago sativa, Asparagus racemosus, Sesamum indicum and Piper longum, were selected. Their mineral composition and phytate and tannin contents were analyzed. Endogenous iron bioavailability was assessed in human enterocyte cell line model, Caco-2 cells, using cellular ferritin induction. Iron absorption-promoting activity was tested similarly in two herbs and their mineral extract by the addition of exogenous iron or ascorbic acid. Findings – Based on compositional analysis, B. diffusa, L. sativum and T. ammi had high iron (> 40 mg/100 g) and tannin/phytate. A. paniculatus, M. sativa, P. longum, S. indicum had low iron (10-15 mg/100 g) with high phytate and tannin. A. racemosus had 38 mg/100 g iron and low phytate and tannin. None of the herbs induced Caco-2 cell ferritin, indicating poor endogenous iron bioavailability. Mineral solutions of, two contrasting herbs (inhibitor content), B. diffusa and A. racemosus induced ferritin with ascorbic acid and not with exogenous iron, suggesting that these are devoid of iron absorption-promoting activity. Practical implications – Incorporation of such herbs in diets may enhance iron content but not its bioavailability. Originality/value – Selected edible herbs have been screened for iron bioavailability and its absorption-promoting activity. This has implications in planning evidence-based strategies to correct iron deficiency in general population.

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Prevalence of Iron Deficiency Anemia and its Biochemical Parameters among the Selected School- going Under-priviledged Children in Dhaka City

Journal of Medicine ◽

10.3329/jom.v14i2.19657 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 130-134

Author(s):

Deena AS Hussain ◽

MS Arefin ◽

Bushra Hussain ◽

Alpana Sarker

Keyword(s):

Iron Deficiency ◽

Haemoglobin Level ◽

Serum Ferritin ◽

Serum Iron ◽

Iron Status ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Iron Nutrition ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Study Population ◽

Low Serum

Iron deficiency is a serious health complication particularly in developing countries, which is usually caused due to poor nutrition, genetic disorders and chronic infections. Compared to developed countries prevalence of anaemia in developing and underdeveloped countries is very high, and children are the ones which are mostly affected. In this paper an attempt has been made to study the prevalence of anaemia among some school-going children in Dhaka. An attempt has also been made to assess the severity of anaemia and iron status among the school-going underprivileged children by measuring serum iron (SI), serum TIBC and serum ferritin (SF) and explore a relationship between haemoglobin level and various parameters of iron nutrition. A substantial number of indicators have been used in determining the iron deficiency.Results obtained from the study show that two thirds of the study children are anaemic due to haemoglobin level below 12 gm/dl. However, majority of them had mild anaemia (haemoglobin level between 10.0 to 11.9 gm/dl) and only a few of them had moderate anaemia (haemoglobin level between 7.0 to 9.9 gm/dl). None of the study population had severe anaemia (haemoglobin level below 7.0 gm/dl). Results also show that only 10 of the study population (6%) were found to have significantly low serum iron, low serum ferritin and high serum iron binding capacity (TIBC) as compared to that of the students who had normal haemoglobin level.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jom.v14i2.19657 J Medicine 2013, 14(2): 130-134

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Optimizing iron absorption to achieve iron adequacy for children’s growth and development

World Nutrition Journal ◽

10.25220/wnj.v04.s3.0017 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (1-3) ◽

pp. 25

Author(s):

Widjaja Lukito

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

Iron Deficiency ◽

Human Health ◽

Iron Deficiency Anemia ◽

Growth And Development ◽

Iron Absorption ◽

Iron Nutrition ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Clinical Form

Iron nutrition plays important roles in human health. In many developing countries, iron deficiency, caused by many factors, prevails. One well-documented clinical form of iron deficiency is iron-deficiency anemia (IDA).

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Maturation, iron deficiency, and ligands in enteric radioiron transport in vitro

American Journal of Physiology-Legacy Content ◽

10.1152/ajplegacy.1963.204.1.171 ◽

1963 ◽

Vol 204 (1) ◽

pp. 171-175 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

W. S. Ruliffson ◽

J. M. Hopping

Keyword(s):

Ascorbic Acid ◽

Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Absorption ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Anaerobic Incubation ◽

Reverse Effect ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Everted Gut Sac

The effects in rats, of age, iron-deficiency anemia, and ascorbic acid, citrate, fluoride, and ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) on enteric radioiron transport were studied in vitro by an everted gut-sac technique. Sacs from young animals transported more than those from older ones. Proximal jejunal sacs from anemic animals transported more than similar sacs from nonanemic rats, but the reverse effect appeared in sacs formed from proximal duodenum. When added to media containing ascorbic acid or citrate, fluoride depressed transport as did anaerobic incubation in the presence of ascorbic acid. Anaerobic incubation in the presence of EDTA appeared to permit elevated transport. Ascorbic acid, citrate, and EDTA all enhanced the level of Fe59 appearing in serosal media. These results appear to agree with previously established in vivo phenomena and tend to validate the in vitro method as one of promise for further studies of factors affecting iron absorption and of the mechanism of iron absorption.

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IRON ABSORPTION AND RESPONSE TO ORAL IRON THERAPY IN IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA ASSOCIATED TO ASYMPTOMATIC GIARDIASIS.

Pediatric Research ◽

10.1203/00006450-199306000-00039 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 33 (6) ◽

pp. 661-661

Author(s):

Helena U Suzuki ◽

Mauro B Morais ◽

Jose N Corral ◽

Ulisses Fagundes-Neto ◽

Nelson L Machado

Keyword(s):

Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Deficiency Anemia ◽

Iron Absorption ◽

Oral Iron ◽

Iron Therapy ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Oral Iron Therapy

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Reply: Intravenous Ferumoxytol in Pediatric Patients With Iron-Deficiency Anemia

Annals of Pharmacotherapy ◽

10.1177/1060028017726796 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 51 (12) ◽

pp. 1146-1146

Author(s):

Nabil E. Hassan

Keyword(s):

Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Deficiency Anemia ◽

Pediatric Patients ◽

Iron Absorption ◽

Deficiency Anemia

Iron Deficiency in children is common problem. Its mechanism could be nutritional or due to lack of iron absorption. Several conditions are associated with IDA. Presence of inflammation further complicate attempts to make a definitive diagnoses or accurately quantify reponse to therapy.

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Iron Amino Acid Chelates

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831.74.6.435 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 74 (6) ◽

pp. 435-443 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Hertrampf ◽

Olivares

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Deficiency Anemia ◽

Ferrous Sulfate ◽

Iron Absorption ◽

Iron Status ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Efficacy Trials ◽

Food Matrices ◽

The Cost

Iron amino acid chelates, such as iron glycinate chelates, have been developed to be used as food fortificants and therapeutic agents in the prevention and treatment of iron deficiency anemia. Ferrous bis-glycine chelate (FeBC), ferric tris-glycine chelate, ferric glycinate, and ferrous bis-glycinate hydrochloride are available commercially. FeBC is the most studied and used form. Iron absorption from FeBC is affected by enhancers and inhibitors of iron absorption, but to a lesser extent than ferrous sulfate. Its absorption is regulated by iron stores. FeBC is better absorbed from milk, wheat, whole maize flour, and precooked corn flour than is ferrous sulfate. Supplementation trials have demonstrated that FeBC is efficacious in treating iron deficiency anemia. Consumption of FeBC-fortified liquid milk, dairy products, wheat rolls, and multi-nutrient beverages is associated with an improvement of iron status. The main limitations to the widespread use of FeBC in national fortification programs are the cost and the potential for promoting organoleptic changes in some food matrices. Additional research is required to establish the bioavailability of FeBC in different food matrices. Other amino acid chelates should also be evaluated. Finally there is an urgent need for more rigorous efficacy trials designed to define the relative merits of amino acid chelates when compared with bioavailable iron salts such as ferrous sulfate and ferrous fumarate and to determine appropriate fortification levels

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Intestinal expression of genes involved in iron absorption in humans

AJP Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpgi.00371.2001 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 282 (4) ◽

pp. G598-G607 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

Andreas Rolfs ◽

Herbert L. Bonkovsky ◽

James G. Kohlroser ◽

Kristina McNeal ◽

Ashish Sharma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Deficiency Anemia ◽

Iron Absorption ◽

Genetic Disorders ◽

Hereditary Hemochromatosis ◽

Transferrin Saturation ◽

High Serum ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Expression Levels

Hereditary hemochromatosis (HHC) is one of the most frequent genetic disorders in humans. In healthy individuals, absorption of iron in the intestine is tightly regulated by cells with the highest iron demand, in particular erythroid precursors. Cloning of intestinal iron transporter proteins provided new insight into mechanisms and regulation of intestinal iron absorption. The aim of this study was to assess whether, in humans, the two transporters are regulated in an iron-dependent manner and whether this regulation is disturbed in HHC. Using quantitative PCR, we measured mRNA expression of divalent cation transporter 1 (DCT1), iron-regulated gene 1 (IREG1), and hephaestin in duodenal biopsy samples of individuals with normal iron levels, iron-deficiency anemia, or iron overload. In controls, we found inverse relationships between the DCT1 splice form containing an iron-responsive element (IRE) and blood hemoglobin, serum transferrin saturation, or ferritin. Subjects with iron-deficiency anemia showed a significant increase in expression of the spliced form, DCT1(IRE) mRNA. Similarly, in subjects homozygous for the C282Y HFE mutation, DCT1(IRE) expression levels remained high despite high serum iron saturation. Furthermore, a significantly increased IREG1 expression was observed. Hephaestin did not exhibit a similar iron-dependent regulation. Our data show that expression levels of human DCT1 mRNA, and to a lesser extent IREG1 mRNA, are regulated in an iron-dependent manner, whereas mRNA of hephaestin is not affected. The lack of appropriate downregulation of apical and basolateral iron transporters in duodenum likely leads to excessive iron absorption in persons with HHC.

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Mutation of the gastric hydrogen-potassium ATPase alpha subunit causes iron-deficiency anemia in mice

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2011-04-350082 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 118 (24) ◽

pp. 6418-6425 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Lara Krieg ◽

Oren Milstein ◽

Philippe Krebs ◽

Yu Xia ◽

Bruce Beutler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Deficiency Anemia ◽

Iron Absorption ◽

Osmotic Fragility ◽

Microcytic Anemia ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Α Subunit ◽

Hypochromic Microcytic Anemia ◽

Gastric Proton Pump ◽

Potassium Atpase

Abstract Iron is an essential component of heme and hemoglobin, and therefore restriction of iron availability directly limits erythropoiesis. In the present study, we report a defect in iron absorption that results in iron-deficiency anemia, as revealed by an N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea–induced mouse phenotype called sublytic. Homozygous sublytic mice develop hypochromic microcytic anemia with reduced osmotic fragility of RBCs. The sublytic phenotype stems from impaired gastrointestinal iron absorption caused by a point mutation of the gastric hydrogen-potassium ATPase α subunit encoded by Atp4a, which results in achlorhydria. The anemia of sublytic homozygotes can be corrected by feeding with a high-iron diet or by parenteral injection of iron dextran; rescue can also be achieved by providing acidified drinking water to sublytic homozygotes. These findings establish the necessity of the gastric proton pump for iron absorption and effective erythropoiesis.

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