The British journal of nutrition
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Iron absorption from a malted cocoa drink fortified with ferric orthophosphate using the stable isotope 58Fe as an extrinsic label.
The potential use of an extrinsic label to measure iron absorption from a ferric orthophosphate-fortified malted cocoa drink was examined by measuring the solubility of the FePO4 in 0.1 M-hydrochloric acid. The validity of using the stable isotope 58Fe as an extrinsic label was tested by comparing Fe absorption by rats from wheat flour extrinsically-labelled with 58Fe or 59Fe. Fe absorption from a malted cocoa drink (20 g powder made up with hot water) fortified with FePO4 (0.5 mg Fe/g powder) was measured in human subjects using 58Fe as an extrinsic label. ⋯ Fasting had a significant effect on Fe availability; rats given the drink shortly after a small meal absorbed less than half as much Fe as those given the drink on a fasted stomach. It was concluded that the FePO4 used to fortify the malted cocoa drink was as well absorbed as FeSO4 but that the high levels of absorption were a reflection of the fasting condition of the subjects. The level of ascorbic acid was not great enough to enhance the availability of the FePO4 any further.