Ascorbic Acid can Reverse the Inhibition of Phytic Acid, Sodium Oxalate and Sodium Silicate on Iron Absorption in Caco-2 cells

The dose-response effect of lecithin on carotenoid bioaccessibility and Caco-2 cell uptake

Previous results have been mixed as to whether the emulsifying agent lecithin increases carotenoid bioaccessibility and Caco-2 cellular uptake. The dose-response effect of lecithin (0-5 mg) on carotenoid bioaccessibility and Caco-2 cellular uptake was investigated in vitro using a mixture of β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin and astaxanthin. Resulting micelles were incubated with Caco-2 cells for 4 h. Carotenoids in chyme, micelle, and cellular fractions were quantitated using HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS/MS. Lecithin-micelle interactions were visualized using confocal microscopy. A lecithin dose of 1 mg improved carotenoid bioaccessibility ∼2× and led to increased Caco-2 cell uptake of the carotenes tested, but no change in xanthophylls tested, as compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Doses of lecithin ≥3 mg did not improve carotenoid bioaccessibility or Caco-2 cell uptake and produced oil droplet aggregation. These results suggest that limited doses of lecithin should be investigated in relation to maximizing carotenoid bioavailability in humans.

Enhancing micronutrient absorption through simultaneous fortification and phytic acid degradation

Phytic acid (PA), an endogenous antinutrient in cereals and legumes, hinders mineral absorption by forming less bioavailable, stable PA-mineral complexes. For individual micronutrients, the PA-to-mineral molar ratio below the critical level ensures better bioavailability and is achieved by adding minerals or removing PA from cereals and pulses. Although several PA reduction and fortification strategies are available, the inability to completely eradicate or degrade PA using available techniques always subdues fortification's impact by hindering fortified micronutrient absorption. The bioavailability of micronutrients could be increased through simultaneous PA degradation and fortification. Following primary PA reduction of the raw material, the fortification step should also incorporate additional essential control stages to further PA inactivation, improving micronutrient absorption. In this review, the chemistry of PA interaction with metal ions, associated controlling parameters, and its impact on PA reduction during fortification is also evaluated, and further suggestions were made for the fortification's success.

Iron Absorption: Factors, Limitations, and Improvement Methods

Iron is an essential element for human life since it participates in many functions in the human body, including oxygen transport, immunity, cell division and differentiation, and energy metabolism. Iron homeostasis is mainly controlled by intestinal absorption because iron does not have active excretory mechanisms for humans. Thus, efficient intestinal iron bioavailability is essential to reduce the risk of iron deficiency anemia. There are two forms of iron, heme and nonheme, found in foods. The average daily dietary iron intake is 10 to 15 mg in humans since only 1 to 2 mg is absorbed through the intestinal system. Nutrient-nutrient interactions may play a role in dietary intestinal iron absorption. Dietary inhibitors such as calcium, phytates, polyphenols and enhancers such as ascorbic acid and proteins mainly influence iron bioavailability. Numerous studies have been carried out for years to enhance iron bioavailability and combat iron deficiency. In addition to traditional methods, innovative techniques are being developed day by day to enhance iron bioavailability. This review will provide information about iron bioavailability, factors affecting absorption, iron deficiency, and recent studies on improving iron bioavailability.

Physicochemical properties of heterogeneously acetylated glucomannan of A. oncophyllus and its performance for iron encapsulation

Abstract Well-known as a food additive, glucomannan has excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability properties. However, glucomannan is easily gelled, which limited its use in high concentration. To reduce the gel formation ability of glucomannan, acetylation was conducted. This work aims to study the effect of acetylation on physicochemical properties of glucomannan. Acetylation was performed in heterogeneous system which glucomannan was immersed in ethanol (96%) with various concentrations of glucomannan (5-25%) and acetic acid (5-99%). This modified glucomannan was subsequently used as an encapsulation matrix for producing iron beads. The results showed that higher concentration of acetic acid in acetylation impacted on higher solubility and viscosity of glucomannan. The transmittance intensity of Infrared (IR) spectra and morphology of glucomannan were changed due to the acetylation and encapsulation process. The highest viscosity of the matrix (484.33 cP) led to the highest Encapsulation Yield (EY) (53.3%). Gompertz’s model fitted to describe the release profile of iron in all samples (R2>0.92) that showed the burst phenomena in the initial release. This work found that acetylated glucomannan had higher solubility and has a potency to protect the iron taste during oral consumption as it releases slower in neutral pH solution.

Chelators for Treatment of Iron and Copper Overload: Shift from Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds to Polymers

Iron and copper are essential micronutrients needed for the proper function of every cell. However, in excessive amounts, these elements are toxic, as they may cause oxidative stress, resulting in damage to the liver and other organs. This may happen due to poisoning, as a side effect of thalassemia infusion therapy or due to hereditary diseases hemochromatosis or Wilson's disease. The current golden standard of therapy of iron and copper overload is the use of low-molecular-weight chelators of these elements. However, these agents suffer from severe side effects, are often expensive and possess unfavorable pharmacokinetics, thus limiting the usability of such therapy. The emerging concepts are polymer-supported iron- and copper-chelating therapeutics, either for parenteral or oral use, which shows vivid potential to keep the therapeutic efficacy of low-molecular-weight agents, while avoiding their drawbacks, especially their side effects. Critical evaluation of this new perspective polymer approach is the purpose of this review article.

Plant-Based Dietary Practices and Socioeconomic Factors That Influence Anemia in India

While rates of malnutrition have declined over the last decade in India due to successful government interventions, the prevalence of anemia remains high. Staple foods provide almost 70% of the daily iron intake. As staple foods are a rich source of phytate, this ingested iron is poorly absorbed. Currently, 59% of children below 3 years of age, 50% of expectant mothers and 53% of women aged 15-19 years are anemic. The most common intervention strategy has been through the use of iron supplements. While the compliance has been low and supplies irregular, such high rates of anemia cannot be explained by iron deficiency alone. This review attempts to fit dietary and cooking practices, field-level diagnostics, cultural beliefs and constraints in implementation of management strategies into a larger picture scenario to offer insights as to why anemia continues to plague India. Since the rural Indian diet is predominantly vegetarian, we also review dietary factors that influence non-heme iron absorption. As a reference point, we also contrast anemia-related trends in India to the U.S.A. Thus, this review is an effort to convey a holistic evaluation while providing approaches to address this public health crisis.

Pulse Probiotic Superfood as Iron Status Improvement Agent in Active Women-A Review

Active women or women of reproductive age (15–49 years old) have a high risk of suffering from anaemia. Anaemia is not solely caused by iron deficiency, however, the approaches to improve iron status in both cases are greatly related. Improving the iron status of active women can be done by dietary intervention with functional food. This review aims to provide insights about the functional food role to increase iron absorption in active women and the potency of pulse probiotic superfood development in dry matrices. Results showed that the beneficial effect of iron status is significantly improved by the synergic work between probiotic and prebiotic. Furthermore, chickpeas and lentils are good sources of prebiotic and the consumption of pulses are related with 21st century people’s intention to eat healthy food. There are wide possibilities to develop functional food products incorporated with probiotics to improve iron status in active woman.

In vitro bioavailability-based assessment of the contribution of wild fruits and vegetables to household dietary iron requirements among rural households in a developing country setting: The case of Acholi Subregion of Uganda

Wild fruits and vegetables (WFV) are believed to contain substantial quantities of micronutrients and are commonly consumed in rural areas of developing countries endowed with natural vegetation. Previous studies that provided evidence on the contribution of WFV to household micronutrient intake in a developing country setting did not consider the effect of antinutritional factors. Therefore, applying the in vitro bioavailability assessment technique and using the Acholi subregion of Uganda a case area, this study examined the contribution of commonly consumed WFV to the pooled annual household dietary requirement for iron. Laboratory analysis showed that the concentration of antinutrients varied with plant species but the pool was dominated by phytate (10.5-150 mg/100 g) and phenolic substances (38.6-41.7 mg GAE/g). In vitro iron bioavailability varied with plant species was quantitatively higher from vegetables than fruits by 27% although total concentration of the micronutrient was higher in fruits than vegetables by 142%. Nutritional computation, taking into account, household composition, and physiological status revealed that consumption of WFV resulted in a median contribution of 1.8% (a minimum of 0.02 and a maximum of 34.7%) to the pooled annual household dietary iron requirements on the basis of bioavailable iron fraction. These results demonstrate that WFV contributes meagerly to household iron needs but may serve other dietary and non-nutrient health purposes.