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Title: THE EFFICACY OF A LOCAL ASCORBIC ACID-RICH FOOD IN IMPROVING IRON ABSORPTION FROM MEXICAN DIETS: A FIELD STUDY USING STABLE ISOTOPES

Author
item DIAZ, MARGARITA - U AUTONOMA DE QUERETARO
item ROSADO, JORGE - U AUTONOMA DE QUERETARO
item ALLEN, LINDSAY - UNIV OF CALIFORNIA
item Abrams, Steven
item GARCIA, OLGA - U AUTONOMA DE QUERETARO

Submitted to: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/30/2003
Publication Date: 9/20/2003
Citation: DIAZ, M., ROSADO, J.L., ALLEN, L.H., ABRAMS, S.A., GARCIA, O.P. 2003. THE EFFICACY OF A LOCAL ASCORBIC ACID-RICH FOOD IN IMPROVING IRON ABSORPTION FROM MEXICAN DIETS: A FIELD STUDY USING STABLE ISOTOPES. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION. 78(3):436-440.

Interpretive Summary: Iron deficiency and anemia are recognized worldwide as a public health problem, especially in developing countries. Populations such as those in rural Mexico, which have a high intake of cereals and legumes as staples and a low intake of meat, poultry and fish, may be iron deficient because of poor dietary iron bioavailability. Thus, increasing the intake of ascorbic acid from local foods may be a sustainable approach to improving iron absorption and status in rural Mexico.

Technical Abstract: BACKGROUND: One potentially sustainable approach to improving iron status at the community level is to encourage the consumption of local ascorbic acid-rich foods, in conjunction with meals high in nonheme iron. OBJECTIVE: The study, conducted in rural Mexico, measured stable isotopes of iron to evaluate the effect on iron absorption of the addition of 25 mg ascorbic acid as agua de limon (limeade) to 2 typical meals per day for 2 wk. DESIGN: Fifteen nonpregnant, nonlactating, iron-deficient (ferritin < 12 microg/L) women (x +/- SD age: 28.3 +/- 7.7 y) fasted overnight and were brought to a community clinic. After an initial blood sample, subjects consumed 0.25 mg (57)Fe with both breakfast and lunch for 14 d. On day 29, another blood sample was taken, and a reference dose of 2.7 mg (58)Fe with 25 mg ascorbic acid was given. For the following 15 d, participants consumed 0.25 mg (57)Fe added to both breakfast and lunch with 25 mg ascorbic acid added to each meal as limeade. A final blood sample was taken on day 59. RESULTS: Iron absorption was calculated from recovery of isotopes in blood obtained 14 d after administration of each isotope. When 25 mg ascorbic acid as limeade was added to test meals twice a day for 2 wk, iron absorption increased significantly (P < 0.001) in every subject: the mean absorption rose from 6.6 +/- 3.0% to 22.9 +/- 12.6%. CONCLUSIONS: The consumption of 25 mg ascorbic acid as limeade twice daily with meals substantially improved iron absorption and may improve the iron status of nonpregnant, nonlactating, iron-deficient women.