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Background/Objectives: Iron-fortified foods reduce the incidence of iron deficiency anemia. However, the nutritional efficacy of heme iron fortificants is unclear. Methods: In this study, we determined the hemoglobin regeneration efficiency (HRE) of a porcine-derived heme iron powder (HIP), treating anemic rats (hemoglobin (Hb) 3–6 g/dL) with 14-day repletion diets fortified with four different concentrations (12, 24, 36, or 48 mg iron/kg diets) of HIP or a control diet ("no added iron"); n = 9–12/group. Results: Our results demonstrate an inverse association between HRE and increasing dietary iron from the HIP. The HRE ratios of diets containing the HIP powder at 12, 24, 36, or 48 mg iron/kg were 0.508, 0.268, 0.273, and 0.223, respectively. Based on the mean final Hb values at 14 d, the HRE ratio of the 12 mg iron/kg diet was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) compared to the other HIP diet groups; however, only the HIP provided in the 36 and 48 mg iron/kg diets restored hemoglobin to high enough levels (mean Hb > 6 g/dL) to correct anemia. Conclusions: Our findings show that HIP at each of the concentrations tested increased Hb; moreover, when present at higher concentrations in the diet, the HIP is capable of restoring hemoglobin to resolve iron deficiency anemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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[Objective] To identify siderophilic endophytic bacteria that efficiently promote iron absorption in rice, and to investigate the siderophore-producing capacity and iron absorption promoting effect of different genera of endophytic bacteria from four wild rice. [Method] This study analyzed the siderophore contents of 198 endophytic bacteria isolated from four types of wild rice including Oryza longistaminata, O. rufipogon, O. officinalis, and O. minuta. The 82 strains with highly efficient siderophore-producing ability were screened from 128 strains with siderophore-producing ability. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that these 82 strains belonged to 18 different genera or species. Based on their siderophore production abilities, 18 candidate strains were selected to assess their abilities of promoting iron absorption in rice. [Result] The results demonstrated that different genera had varying effects on promoting rice iron absorption, with Bacillus (class), Pseudomonas, and Saccharomycetes showing significant effects. Five high-efficient siderophore producing strains were selected from 18 strains and further confirmed that endophytic bacteria partially restored the iron deficiency phenotype of a rice iron-absorption-deficient mutant (osbhlh156). [Conclusion] This study elucidates that siderophore produced by plant-interacting microorganisms can be utilized by rice, thereby enriching the microbial resources associated with iron absorption in rice. Additionally, it provides valuable bacterial resources and a theoretical basis for promoting iron absorption in rice through rice-microbial interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Increased iron loss may reduce the effectiveness of iron supplementation. The objective of this study was to determine if daily oral iron supplementation increases iron loss, measured using a stable isotope of iron (58Fe). We enrolled and dewormed 24 iron‐depleted Kenyan children, 24–27 months of age, whose body iron was enriched and equilibrated with 58Fe given at least 1 year earlier. Over 3 months of supplementation (6 mg iron/kg body weight [BW]/day), mean (±SD) iron absorption was 1.10 (±0.28) mg/day. During supplementation, 0.55 (±0.36) mg iron/day was lost, equal to half of the amount of absorbed iron. Supplementation did not increase faecal haem/porphyrin or biomarkers of enterocyte damage and gut or systemic inflammation. Using individual patient data, we examined iron dose, absorption and loss among all available long‐term iron isotopic studies of supplementation. Expressed in terms of body weight, daily iron loss was correlated significantly with iron absorption (Pearson's r = 0.66 [95% confidence interval 0.48–0.78]) but not with iron dose (r = 0.16 [95% CI −0.10–0.40]). The results of this study indicate that iron loss is increased with daily oral iron supplementation and may blunt the efficacy of iron supplements in children. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT04721964. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence, evolution, and spread of life on Earth have all occurred in the geomagnetic field, and its extensive biological effects on living organisms have been documented. The charged characteristics of metal ions in biological fluids determine that they are affected by electromagnetic field forces, thus affecting life activities. Iron metabolism, as one of the important metal metabolic pathways, keeps iron absorption and excretion in a relatively balanced state, and this process is precisely and completely controlled. It is worth paying attention to how the iron metabolism process of living organisms is changed when exposed to electromagnetic fields. In this paper, the processes of iron absorption, storage and excretion in animals (mammals, fish, arthropods), plants and microorganisms exposed to electromagnetic field were summarized in detail as far as possible, in order to discover the regulation of iron metabolism by electromagnetic field. Studies and data on the effects of electromagnetic field exposure on iron metabolism in organisms show that exposure profiles vary widely across species and cell lines. This process involves a variety of factors, and the complexity of the results is not only related to the magnetic flux density/operating frequency/exposure time and the heterogeneity of the observed object. A systematic review of the biological regulation of iron metabolism by electromagnetic field exposure will not only contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of its biological effects and mechanism, but also is necessary to improve human awareness of the health related risks of electromagnetic field exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a high incidence and is associated with many disease conditions. Iron dysmetabolism is an important contributor to anemia in CKD patients. Methods: ALTAI, a randomized, active-controlled, phase 4 trial, investigated the efficacy of roxadustat versus recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) on gastrointestinal iron absorption in patients with anemia of CKD (stage 4/5). The primary endpoint was change from baseline to day 15 in gastrointestinal iron absorption (serum iron area under the concentration-time curve; AUC0–3h) following single-dose oral iron. Results: Twenty-five patients with a mean age of 55.1 years were randomized 1:1 to roxadustat (n = 13) or rHuEPO (n = 12). Baseline iron profiles were similar between treatment groups. Change from baseline to day 15 in serum iron AUC0–3h was not statistically significantly different between the roxadustat and rHuEPO groups. Mean (SD) change from baseline in serum iron AUC0–3h was 11.3 (28.2) g × 3 h/dl in the roxadustat group and − 0.3 (9.7) g × 3 h/dl in the rHuEPO group. Roxadustat treatment was associated with decreased hepcidin and also increased transferrin, soluble transferrin receptor, and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), with nominal significance. The proportion of patients experiencing one or more adverse events was 38.5% when treated with roxadustat and 16.7% with rHuEPO. Conclusions: The study showed no significant difference between roxadustat and rHuEPO in iron absorption but was underpowered because of recruitment challenges. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT04655027. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron deficiency is a global nutritional problem, and adding iron salts directly to food will have certain side effects on the human body. Therefore, there is growing interest in food-grade iron delivery systems. This review provides an overview of iron delivery systems, with emphasis on the controlled release of iron during gastrointestinal digestion, as well as the enhancement of iron absorption and bioavailability. Iron-bearing proteins are easily degraded by digestive enzymes and absorbed through receptor-mediated endocytosis. Instead, protein aggregates are slowly degraded in the stomach, which delays iron release and serves as a potential iron supplement. Amino acids, peptides and polysaccharides can bind iron through iron binding sites, but the formed compounds are prone to dissociation in the stomach. Moreover, peptides and polysaccharides can deliver iron by mediating the formation of ferric oxyhydroxide which is absorbed through endocytosis or bivalent transporter 1. In addition, liposomes are unstable during gastric digestion and iron is released in large quantities. Complexes formed by polysaccharides and proteins, and microcapsules formed by polysaccharides can delay the release of iron in the gastric environment and prolong iron release in the intestinal environment. This review is conducive to the development of iron functional ingredients and dietary supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is one of the most common nutritional problems in patients with obesity and after bariatric surgery. While it can be reduced with diet and oral supplementation, a subset of patients is refractory to these measures. Several factors have been implicated including high hepcidin levels reducing the release of absorbed iron into the circulation. We found 6 papers studying hepcidin levels before and after bariatric surgery. Patients with obesity have higher hepcidin and other inflammatory markers. Five out of six studies reported significant falls in hepcidin levels after bariatric surgery. This was accompanied by an improvement in the RBC morphology indices in restrictive surgeries. However, the fall in hepcidin is not uniform and may be a contributing factor for refractory IDA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a health problem in Indonesia. Prevention and treatment of IDA is carried out by giving fortified foods and oral iron therapy. Both can use ferrous fumarate which is made with reacting bivalent iron and disodium fumarate. Bivalent iron can be obtained from iron sand in Indonesia. This study aims to synthesize ferrous fumarate from Indonesian iron sand, which is from Malang, Sukabumi, and Cianjur area, and to determine its absorption through in vivo body weight gain test in male Wistar white rats (Rattus norvegicus). First, ferrous fumarate was synthesized through reaction of ferrous sulfate, which was made from Indonesian iron sand with the highest iron content, which was from Sukabumi area, and disodium fumarate. Second, in vivo body weight gain test was conducted to 3 rat groups (negative control, ferrous sulfate group, and ferrous fumarate group, respectively) and monitored for two weeks. The results showed that ferrous fumarate was successfully obtained as brownish red-orange fine powder with yield of 62.17 ± 1.66 %. In addition, the in vivo body weight test suggested that the rats from ferrous fumarate group showed similar weight gain (35.1%) compared to those from the ferrous sulfate group (30.6%), indicating a possibility of iron absorption from ferrous fumarate.

The intestine represents one of the first barriers where microorganisms and environmental antigens come into tight contact with the host immune system. A healthy intestine is essential for the well-being of humans and animals. The period after birth is a very important phase of development, as the infant moves from a protected environment in the uterus to one with many of unknown antigens and pathogens. In that period, mother's milk plays an important role, as it contains an abundance of biologically active components. Among these components, the iron-binding glycoprotein, lactoferrin (LF), has demonstrated a variety of important benefits in infants and adults, including the promotion of intestinal health. This review article aims to provide a compilation of all the information related to LF and intestinal health, in infants and adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Most Escherichia coli are not pathogenic. But some strains of E. Coli become pathogenic by acquiring and synthesizing diverse virulence genes. Iron, as an essential nutrient, has a proven role in the pathogenicity of E. coli. One of the most common strategies of microorganisms in the presence of free iron is the production of siderophores. Siderophores act as extracellular agents for the absorption of iron from minerals or organic compounds in the absence of iron. The Purpose of this study was to identify and evaluate the genes encoding iron absorption systems in Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli isolates isolated from diarrhea specimens. Material and Method In this study, three panels were designed. Panel 1: iroN, iutA, fecA, Panel 2: fyuA, sitA, irp2 and Panel 3: iucD. In panels 1 and 2, Triplex-PCR method and panel 3, single-PCR method were used and 44 EAEC isolates isolated from diarrhea samples were screened by these three panels. Results The results showed that a total of 44 EAEC isolates had respectively the highest frequency of fecA 44(100%), fyuA 43(97.73%), irp2 43(97.73%), iutA 42(95.45%), iucD 34(77.27%), sitA 29(65.91%) and iroN 4(9.09%). and 7 gene profiles encoding different iron absorption systems were identified. Conclusion The results showed that EAEC isolates have the ability to produce synthesize a variety of siderophores and use the variety of profiles of different iron absorption systems to obtain the required iron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Iron‐deficiency anemia is one severe micronutrient malnutrition and has captured worldwide attention. This study evaluated the in vitro iron absorption of two iron‐binding proteins (hemoglobin and ferritin) from Tegillarca granosa. In addition, the protein structure–iron absorption relationship and the regulatory effect of hepcidin on cellular iron absorption were explored. Results: Our findings revealed that both hemoglobin and ferritin extracted from T. granosa contained abundant iron‐binding sites, as evidenced by stronger peaks in amide I and II regions compared with the two proteins from humans. Less β‐sheet (27.67%) structures were found in hemoglobin compared with ferritin (36.40%), probably contributing to its greater digestibility and more release of available iron. This was confirmed by the results of Caco‐2/HepG2 cell culture system that showed iron absorption of hemoglobin was 26.10–39.31% higher than that of ferritin with an iron content of 50–150 μmol L−1. This high iron absorption of hemoglobin (117.86–174.10 ng mg−1) could also be due to more hepcidin produced by HepG2 cells, thereby preventing ferroportin‐mediated iron efflux from Caco‐2 cells. In addition, the possible risk of oxidative stress was evaluated in cells post‐iron exposure. In comparison with ferrous sulfate, a common iron supplement, Caco‐2 cells treated with the iron‐binding proteins had a 9.50–25.73% lower level of intracellular reactive oxygen species, indicating the safety of hemoglobin and ferritin. Conclusion: Collectively, the data of this research would be helpful for understanding the key features and potential of developing hemoglobin and ferritin from T. granosa as novel iron supplements. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Whether prebiotic human milk oligosaccharides (HMO), such as 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) and lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT), enhance iron absorption in infants is unknown. Moreover, whether maternal HMO profile affects absorption of iron fortificants or the effects of prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and/or HMO on iron absorption is uncertain. Objectives: The aim of this study was to test whether consumption of 3.0 g GOS or HMO enhances iron absorption from iron-fortified maize porridge in partially breastfed Kenyan infants and whether maternal HMO profile modulates these effects. Methods: In a randomized, prospective crossover study, 55 infants (aged 8-12 mo) were fed test meals fortified with 1 of the following: 1) 5.0 mg iron as 54Fe-labeled ferrous fumarate (FeFum); 2) 5.0 mg iron as 58FeFum and 3.0 g GOS (FeFum+GOS); and 3) 5.0 mg iron as 57FeFum and 2.0 g 2'-FL and 1.0 g LNnT (FeFum+HMO). Fractional iron absorption (FIA) was assessed by erythrocyte incorporation of iron isotopes. HMO profiles were determined by capillary gel electrophoresis with laser-induced florescence detection. Data were analyzed with mixed-effect models, and iron dialyzability was measured in vitro. Results: Of the 55 infants included, 49 were fed as instructed. FIA from the FeFum+GOS group [median (IQR) 22.2% (16.5%-25.9%)] was higher than that from the FeFum group [12.5% (9.5%-20.9%)] (P = 0.005). FIA from the FeFum+HMO group was 13.3% (7.1%-24.4%) and did not differ from the FeFum group (P = 0.923). Maternal HMO profile did not predict FIA or modulate the effects of GOS or HMO on FIA. Iron dialyzability ratios at pH 2 of FeFum+GOS to FeFum and FeFum+HMO to FeFum were 2.1 and 0.9 (P = 0.001 and P = 0.322), respectively. Conclusions: In Kenyan infants consuming FeFum-fortified maize porridge, co-provision of 3.0 g GOS increased FIA by 78%, whereas co-provision of 3.0 g HMO did not affect FIA. Variations in maternal HMO profile, including secretor and Lewis phenotype, did not predict FIA. These data argue against a physiologic role for 2'-FL and LNnT in facilitating iron absorption in infancy. The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04163406 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04163406). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The gut microbiota is known to play a role in regulating host metabolism, yet the mechanisms underlying this regulation are not well elucidated. Our study aimed to characterize the differences in gut microbiota compositions and their roles in iron absorption between wild-type (WT) and CD163/pAPN double-gene-knockout (DKO) weaned piglets. A total of 58 samples along the entire digestive tract were analyzed for microbial community using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The colonic microbiota and their metabolites were determined by metagenomic sequencing and untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), respectively. Our results showed that no alterations in microbial community structure and composition were observed between DKO and WT weaned piglets, with the exception of colonic microbiota. Interestingly, the DKO piglets had selectively increased the relative abundance of the Leeia genus belonging to the Neisseriaceae family and decreased the Ruminococcaceae_UCG_014 genus abundance. Functional capacity analysis showed that organic acid metabolism was enriched in the colon in DKO piglets. In addition, the DKO piglets showed increased iron levels in important tissues compared with WT piglets without any pathological changes. Pearson’s correlation coefficient indicated that the specific bacteria such as Leeia and Ruminococcaceae_UCG_014 genus played a key role in host iron absorption. Moreover, the iron levels had significantly (P

Iron is an essential micronutrient for humans and their intestinal microbiota. Host intestinal cells and iron-dependent bacteria compete for intraluminal iron, so the composition and functions of the gut microbiota may influence iron availability. Studies of the effects of the microbiota or probiotic interventions on host iron absorption may be particularly relevant to settings with high burdens of iron deficiency and gastrointestinal infections, since inflammation reduces iron bioavailability and unabsorbed intraluminal iron may modify the composition of the microbiota. The quantification of stool iron content may serve as an indicator of the amount of intraluminal iron to which the intestinal microbiota is exposed, which is particularly relevant for studies of the effect of iron on the intestinal microbiome, where fecal samples collected for purposes of microbiome characterization can be leveraged for stool iron analysis. However, few studies are available to guide researchers in the selection and implementation of stool iron assays, particularly because cross-comparison of available methods is limited in literature. This review aims to describe the available stool iron quantification methods and highlight their potential application in studies of iron–microbiome relationships, with a focus on pediatric research. MS-based methods offer high sensitivity and precision, but the need for expensive equipment and the high per-sample and maintenance costs may limit their widespread use. Conversely, colorimetric assays offer lower cost, ease of use, and rapid turnaround times but have thus far been optimized primarily for blood-derived matrices rather than stool. Further research efforts are needed to validate and standardize methods for stool iron assessment and to determine if the incorporation of such analyses in human microbiome studies 1) yields insights into the interactions between intestinal microbiota and iron and 2) contributes to the development of interventions that mitigate iron deficiency and promote a healthy microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Edible insects have a low ecological footprint and could serve as an alternative dietary iron source. However, chitin, a major component of insects, avidly binds iron and might inhibit iron absorption. Objectives We aimed to measure fractional iron absorption (FIA) from Tenebrio molitor –based test meals with and without dechitinization, and to assess the effect of native and low chitin T. molitor on FIA from iron-fortified maize porridge. Methods We measured iron absorption in young females with low iron stores (n  = 21) from 1) labeled (54FeSO4) fortified maize porridge (maize alone); 2) intrinsically labeled (57Fe added during rearing) T. molitor larvae with native chitin content (NC) added to maize alone; and 3) dechitinized intrinsically labeled (57Fe) T. molitor larvae with low chitin content (LC) added to maize alone. We determined FIA using erythrocyte isotope incorporation and measured in vitro iron dialyzability from the 3 meals. Results NC and LC T. molitor had similar mean ± SD iron content (12.0 ± 0.1 mg/100 g). Geometric mean (95% CI) FIAs from the 3 test meals were 1) maize alone: 5.8% (3.2%, 10.8%); 2) maize + NC T. molitor : 5.3% (2.5%, 11.3%) and 4.1% (1.9%, 8.7%); and 3) maize + LC T. molitor : 4.6% (2.0%, 10.3%) and 4.0% (1.8%, 9.2%), for extrinsic and intrinsic labels, respectively. FIA from NC and LC T. molitor did not significantly differ, and both were lower (P  < 0.005) than FIA from the labeled maize porridge in the 3 meals, which did not significantly differ. The slopes of the relations between FIA and serum ferritin in the different meals and from the intrinsic and extrinsic labels did not significantly differ. Conclusions T. molitor biomass does not strongly affect iron absorption when added to maize porridge. Our data suggest T. molitor iron is absorbed from the common nonheme iron pool. Native T. molitor is high in iron which is moderately well absorbed, suggesting it could be a valuable dietary iron source. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04510831. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insufficient absorption of iron and the consequent development of iron deficiency have serious health consequences. Hence, identification and development of iron delivery systems that can increase the bioavailability and uptake of dietary iron is important. Osteopontin (OPN) is an acidic and highly phosphorylated integrin-binding protein found in milk where it exists as a full-length protein and as N-terminally derived fragments. Milk OPN can be taken up by enterocytes and transported across the intestinal barrier into the circulation. Milk OPN has previously been shown to bind calcium and magnesium. This study investigates milk OPN as a carrier of iron and its potential to increase iron absorption in intestinal cells. Full-length OPN and N-terminal fragments of OPN were shown to bind ∼30 and ∼10 moles of iron, respectively, and the phosphorylated residues were crucial for iron binding. OPN retained iron bound after simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Immunodetection of digested OPN and OPN-Fe complexes showed that the OPN-Fe complexes were more resistant to pepsin digestion than OPN without bound iron. The cellular uptake of iron was investigated by measuring intracellular ferritin formation and mRNA expression of divalent metal transporter 1 in Caco-2 cells. OPN increased the uptake of iron even in the presence of phytic acid, a dietary inhibitor of iron absorption. These data indicate that OPN can function as an iron carrier for use in alternative strategies for delivering iron in a bioavailable form for intestinal uptake., (© 2025, The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the American Dairy Science Association®. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).)

Background: Iron is an essential element for critical biological functions, with iron deficiency negatively affecting growth and brain development and iron excess associated with adverse effects. The goal of this review is to provide a comprehensive assessment of up-to-date evidence on iron absorption measured isotopically in children, preterm infants, and full-term infants, up to 24 months of age., Methods: Search databases included Pubmed, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Scopus from a date range of 1 January 1953 to 22 July 2024. The included articles were experimental studies with iron absorption outcomes measured by isotopic techniques. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool., Results: A total of 1594 records were identified from databases, and 37 studies were included in the quality review with a total of 1531 participants. Article results were grouped by study commonality: absorption and red blood cell incorporation, type of milk feedings, additives to improve absorption, how and when to supplement with iron, and iron forms and complimentary foods., Conclusions: The results from this review support the current recommendations of oral iron supplementation. Iron from breast milk has high bioavailability, and unmodified cow's milk reduces iron absorption. Supplemental iron is required at 4-6 months for healthy, full-term infants and sooner for preterm infants. Ascorbic acid increases iron absorption in full-term infants and children. Lactoferrin and prebiotics are promising candidates for enhancing iron absorption, but they require further investigation. Research evidence of iron absorption mechanisms and modulating factors in preterm infants is limited and should be a research priority.

Background: Previous studies showed that pre- and probiotics may enhance iron absorption. Probiotics combined with prebiotics (synbiotics), including human-identical milk oligosaccharides (HiMOs), are commonly added to infant and follow-up formula (FUF). Whether these additions enhance iron absorption from iron-fortified commercial milk formula is uncertain., Objectives: We determined the effect of adding 1) a synbiotic [galacto-oligosaccharide [GOS] + Limosilactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri)] or 2) the HiMO 2'-fucosyllactose (2'FL) to iron-fortified FUF on iron absorption in young Thai children., Methods: In a randomized, controlled, single-blinded (participants) crossover study, 82 Thai children aged 8-14 mo were enrolled to consume single servings (235 mL) of FUF with isotopically labeled ferrous sulfate (2.2 mg iron) with 1) the synbiotic (400 mg/100 mL GOS and L. reuteri DSM 17938), 2) the HiMO 2'FL (100 mg/100 mL), and 3) without synbiotic and 2'FL (control) in random order and a 3-d washout period between administrations. Fractional iron absorption [FIA (%)] was assessed by measuring erythrocyte incorporation of isotopic labels 14 d (n = 26) and 28 d (n = 76) after consumption of the last test FUF., Results: Median (IQR) FIA from iron-fortified FUF with the synbiotic [8.2 (5.2, 12.9)%] and with 2'FL [8.4 (5.5, 14.1)%] did not differ from the control FUF [8.1 (4.8,14.7)%] (synbiotic compared with control, P = 0.24; 2'FL compared with control, P = 0.95). FIA from all FUF did not differ when measured after 14 and 28 d of erythrocyte incorporation (Time, P = 0.368; FUF, P = 0.435; Time × FUF, P = 0.937). Fecal pH and hemoglobin were negatively associated with FIA., Conclusions: In young Thai children, the addition of a synbiotic (GOS + L. reuteri) or 2'FL to iron-fortified FUF did not impact FIA from a single serving. The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04774016., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: We developed a natural polyphenol supplement that strongly chelates iron in vitro and assessed its effect on non-heme iron absorption in patients with hereditary hemochromatosis (HH). Methods: We performed in vitro iron digestion experiments to determine iron precipitation by 12 polyphenol-rich dietary sources, and formulated a polyphenol supplement (PPS) containing black tea powder, cocoa powder and grape juice extract. In a multi-center, single-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study, we assessed the effect of the PPS on iron absorption from an extrinsically labelled test meal and test drink in patients (n = 14) with HH homozygous for the p.C282Y variant in the HFE gene. We measured fractional iron absorption (FIA) as stable iron isotope incorporation into erythrocytes. Results: Black tea powder, cocoa powder and grape juice extract most effectively precipitated iron in vitro. A PPS mixture of these three extracts precipitated ~ 80% of iron when 2 g was added to a 500 g iron solution containing 20 µg Fe/g. In the iron absorption study, the PPS reduced FIA by ~ 40%: FIA from the meal consumed with the PPS was lower (3.01% (1.60, 5.64)) than with placebo (5.21% (3.92, 6.92)) (p = 0.026)), and FIA from the test drink with the PPS was lower (10.3% (7.29 14.6)) than with placebo (16.9% (12.8 22.2)) (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Our results indicate that when taken with meals, this natural PPS can decrease dietary iron absorption, and might thereby reduce body iron accumulation and the frequency of phlebotomy in patients with HH. Trial registry: clinicaltrials.gov (registration date: 9.6.2019, NCT03990181). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is very common and affects approximately 1/3 of the world's human population. There are strong research data that some probiotics, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum improve iron absorption and influence the course of anemia. Furthermore, prebiotics, including galactooligosaccharides (GOS) and fructooligosaccharides (FOS), increase iron bioavailability and decrease its destructive effect on the intestinal microbiota. In addition, multiple postbiotics, which are probiotic metabolites, including vitamins, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), and tryptophan, are involved in the regulation of intestinal absorption and may influence iron status in humans. This review presents the actual data from research studies on the influence of probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics on the prevention and therapy of IDA and the latest findings regarding their mechanisms of action. A comparison of the latest research data and theories regarding the role of pre-, post-, and probiotics and the mechanism of their action in anemias is also presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Resveratrol (Res), a phytoalexin, has been widely reported to participate in plant resistance to fungal infections. However, little information is available on its role in abiotic stress, especially in iron deficiency stress. Malus baccata is widely used as apple rootstock in China, but it is sensitive to iron deficiency. Results In this study, we investigated the role of exogenous Res in M. baccata seedings under iron deficiency stress. Results showed that applying 100 μM exogenous Res could alleviate iron deficiency stress. The seedlings treated with Res had a lower etiolation rate and higher chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate compared with the apple seedlings without Res treatment. Exogenous Res increased the iron content in the roots and leaves by inducing the expression of MbAHA genes and improving the H+-ATPase activity. As a result, the rhizosphere pH decreased, iron solubility increased, the expression of MbFRO2 and MbIRT1 was induced, and the ferric-chelated reductase activity was enhanced to absorb large amounts of Fe2+ into the root cells under iron deficiency conditions. Moreover, exogenous Res application increased the contents of IAA, ABA, and GA3 and decreased the contents of DHZR and BL for responding to iron deficiency stress indirectly. In addition, Res functioned as an antioxidant that strengthened the activities of antioxidant enzymes and thus eliminated reactive oxygen species production induced by iron deficiency stress. Conclusion Resveratrol improves the iron deficiency adaptation of M. baccata seedlings mainly by regulating iron absorption.

The intestine represents one of the first barriers where microorganisms and environmental antigens come into tight contact with the host immune system. A healthy intestine is essential for the well-being of humans and animals. The period after birth is a very important phase of development, as the infant moves from a protected environment in the uterus to one with many of unknown antigens and pathogens. In that period, mother’s milk plays an important role, as it contains an abundance of biologically active components. Among these components, the iron-binding glycoprotein, lactoferrin (LF), has demonstrated a variety of important benefits in infants and adults, including the promotion of intestinal health. This review article aims to provide a compilation of all the information related to LF and intestinal health, in infants and adults.

[Display omitted] • Relatively good iron supplementation efficacy of mung bean peptide ferrous chelates. • Histological studies indicated that neither the small molecule mung bean peptide ferrous chelate nor the small molecule mung bean peptide auxiliary ferrous had a damaging effect on tissues. • Small molecular mung bean peptide ferrous chelate holds promise as a potential dietary iron supplement. There is an increasing amount of research into the development of a third generation of iron supplementation using peptide-iron chelates. Peptides isolated from mung bean were chelated with ferrous iron (MBP-Fe) and tested as a supplement in mice suffering from iron-deficiency anemia (IDA). Mice were randomly divided into seven groups: a group fed the normal diet, the IDA model group, and IDA groups treated with inorganic iron (FeSO 4), organic iron (ferrous bisglycinate, Gly-Fe), low-dose MBP-Fe(L-MBP-Fe), high-dose MBP-Fe(H-MBP-Fe), and MBP mixed with FeSO 4 (MBP/Fe). The different iron supplements were fed for 28 days via intragastric administration. The results showed that MBP-Fe and MBP/Fe had ameliorative effects, restoring hemoglobin (HGB), red blood cell (RBC), hematocrit (HCT), and serum iron (SI) levels as well as total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and body weight gain of the IDA mice to normal levels. Compared to the inorganic (FeSO 4) and organic (Gly-Fe) iron treatments, the spleen coefficient and damage to liver and spleen tissues were significantly lower in the H-MBP-Fe and MBP/Fe mixture groups, with reparative effects on jejunal tissue. Gene expression analysis of the iron transporters Dmt 1 (Divalent metal transporter 1), Fpn 1 (Ferroportin 1), and Dcytb (Duodenal cytochrome b) indicated that MBP promoted iron uptake. These findings suggest that mung bean peptide-ferrous chelate has potential as a peptide-based dietary supplement for treating iron deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hot extrusion is widely used to produce iron-fortified rice, but heating may increase resistant starch and thereby decrease iron bioavailability. Cold-extruded iron-fortified rice may have higher bioavailability but has higher iron losses during cooking. Thus, warm extrusion could have nutritional benefits, but this has not been tested. Whether the addition of citric acid (CA) and trisodium citrate (TSC) counteracts any detrimental effect of high-extrusion temperature on iron bioavailability is unclear.Objectives: Our aim was to assess the effects of varying processing temperatures on the starch microstructure of extruded iron-fortified rice and resulting iron solubility and iron bioavailability.Methods: We produced extruded iron-fortified rice grains at cold, warm, and hot temperatures (40°C, 70°C, and 90°C), with and without CA/TSC at a molar ratio of iron to CA/TSC of 1:0.3:5.5. We characterized starch microstructure using small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering and differential scanning calorimetry, assessed color over 6 mo, and measured in vitro iron solubility. In standardized rice and vegetable test meals consumed by young women (n = 22; mean age: 23 y; geometric mean plasma ferritin: 29.3 μg/L), we measured iron absorption from the fortified rice grains intrinsically labeled with 57ferric pyrophosphate (57FePP), compared with ferrous sulfate (58FeSO4) solution added extrinsically to the meals.Results: Warm and hot extrusion altered starch morphology from native type A to type V and increased retrograded starch. However, extrusion temperature did not significantly affect iron solubility or iron bioavailability. The geometric mean fractional iron absorption of iron from fortified rice extruded with CA/TSC (8.2%; 95% CI: 7.9%, 11.0%) was more than twice that from extruded rice without CA/TSC (3.0%; 95% CI: 2.7%, 3.4%; P < 0.001).Conclusions: Higher extrusion temperatures did not affect iron bioavailability from extruded rice in young women, but co-extrusion of CA/TSC with FePP sharply increased iron absorption independently from extrusion temperature. This trial is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03703726. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Modern Food Science & Technology is the property of Editorial Office of Modern Food Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) increase iron absorption from fortification-level iron doses given as ferrous fumarate (FeFum) in women and children. Whether GOS or other fibers, such as prebiotic fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and acacia gum, increase iron absorption from higher supplemental doses of FeFum is unclear.Objectives: In iron-depleted [serum ferritin (SF) <25 μg/L] women, we tested if oral coadministration of 15 g GOS, FOS, or acacia gum increased iron absorption from a 100 mg Fe supplement given as FeFum.Methods: In a randomized, single-blind, crossover study, 30 women (median age: 26.2 y; median SF: 12.9 μg/L) consumed a 100 mg Fe tablet labeled with 4 mg 57Fe or 58Fe, given with either 1) 15 g GOS; 2) 15 g FOS; 3) 15 g acacia gum; or 4) 6.1 g lactose and 1.5 g sucrose (control; matching the amounts of sucrose and lactose present in the GOS powder providing 15 g GOS), dissolved in water. The primary outcome, fractional iron absorption (FIA), was assessed by erythrocyte isotopic incorporation 14 d after administration. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed-effect model. We also tested, in vitro, iron solubility at different pH and dialyzability from the different supplement combinations administered in vivo.Results: FIA from FeFum given with GOS and FOS was significantly higher (+45% and +51%, respectively; P < 0.001 for both) than control; median [IQR] total iron absorption was 34.6 mg [28.4-49.1 mg], 36.1 mg [29.0-46.2 mg], and 23.9 mg [20.5-34.0 mg], respectively. Acacia gum did not significantly affect FIA from FeFum (P = 0.688). In vitro, iron dialyzability of FeFum + GOS was 46% higher than that of FeFum alone (P = 0.003).Conclusions: In iron-depleted women, both GOS and FOS coadministration with FeFum increased iron absorption by ∼50% from a 100 mg oral iron dose, resulting in an additional 10-12 mg of absorbed iron. Thus, GOS and FOS may be promising new enhancers of supplemental iron absorption.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04194255. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background During pregnancy iron can be obtained from the diet, body iron stores, or iron released from RBC catabolism. Little is known about the relative use of these sources to support fetal iron acquisition. Objectives To describe longitudinal change in iron absorption and enrichment across gestation and partitioning of RBC iron to the fetus. Methods Fifteen pregnant women ingested an oral stable iron isotope (57Fe) in the second trimester (T2) of pregnancy (weeks 14–16) to label the RBC pool, and a second oral stable isotope (58Fe) in the third trimester (T3) (weeks 32–35). Absorption was measured at T2 and T3. Change in RBC 57Fe enrichment was monitored (18.8–26.6 wk) to quantify net iron loss from this pool. Iron transfer to the fetus was determined based on RBC 57Fe and 58Fe enrichment in umbilical cord blood at delivery. Results Iron absorption averaged 9% at T2 and increased significantly to 20% (P  = 0.01) by T3. The net increase in iron absorption from T2 to T3 was strongly associated with net loss in maternal total body iron (TBI) from T2 to T3 (P  = 0.01). Mean time for the labeled RBC 57Fe turnover based on change in RBC enrichment was 94.9 d (95% CI: 43.5, 207.1 d), and a greater decrease in RBC 57Fe enrichment was associated with higher iron absorption in T2 (P  = 0.001). Women with a greater decrease in RBC 57Fe enrichment transferred more RBC-derived iron to their fetus (P  < 0.05). Conclusions Iron absorption doubled from T2 to T3 as maternal TBI declined. Women with low TBI had a greater decrease in RBC iron enrichment and transferred more RBC-derived iron to their neonate. These findings suggest maternal RBC iron serves as a significant source of iron for the fetus, particularly in women with depleted body iron stores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemoglobin is an excellent source of iron supplements, and its hydrolyzate spontaneously binds iron during digestion and promotes iron absorption in vivo. However, the underlying mechanisms of what peptides bind and how they bind iron ions remain unclear. This study prepared the porcine hemoglobin hydrolyzate through enzymatic hydrolysis and acid treatment and investigated the mechanisms of hemoglobin hydrolyzate on iron absorption through the determination of iron levels in dietary intervention mice, iron binding site analyses, peptide digestion analyses, molecular simulation docking, and INT407 cell validation. The results showed that ingestion of the hemoglobin hydrolyzate diets increased iron levels in the blood of mice, accompanied by the upregulation of duodenal iron circulation-related genes such as ferritin, PCBP1, and HP. Carboxyl, imidazole groups, and aromatic amino acid residues were iron binding sites of hemoglobin hydrolyzate during digestion. VDEVGGEA and VDEVGGE were found to involve the spontaneous and efficient binding of hemoglobin hydrolyzate to iron ions in the intestinal cavity. In particular, the DEVGGE peptide was the typical sequence for hemoglobin hydrolytic peptides to exert iron binding activity.

ABSTRACT: An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of organic and inorganic Fe sources on Fe absorption and expression of related transporters in the small intestine of broilers. Iron-deficient intact broilers (7-day-old) were fed an Fe-unsupplemented corn-soybean meal basal diet or the basal diet supplemented with 60 mg Fe/kg as Fe sulfate (FeSO4•7H2O), Fe-Met with weak chelation strength (Fe-Met W), Fe-proteinate with moderate chelation strength (Fe-Prot M) or Fe-proteinate with extremely strong chelation strength (Fe-Prot ES) for 14 d. The plasma Fe contents were enhanced (P < 0.02) by Fe addition, and greater (P < 0.0002) in Fe-Prot M and Fe-Prot ES groups than in Fe-Met W and FeSO4 groups. Supplemental Fe decreased (P < 0.03) the divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) mRNA levels in the duodenum and jejunum, and ferroportin 1 (FPN1) mRNA levels in the duodenum on d 21, but no differences (P > 0.20) were detected among different Fe sources. Regardless of Fe source, the mRNA levels of DMT1 and FPN1 were higher (P < 0.02) in the duodenum than in the jejunum and ileum, and in the jejunum than in the ileum (P < 0.05). However, Fe addition did not affect (P > 0.10) the mRNA levels of amino acid transporters and protein levels of DMT1 and FPN1 in the small intestine of broilers. These results indicate that organic Fe sources with stronger chelation strength showed higher Fe absorption in broilers in vivo; the mRNA expression of Fe and amino acid transporters varied along with the extension of the small intestine; the absorption of Fe as organic Fe chelates was not mediated by the amino acid transporters in intact chicks in this study.

Although hepcidin synthesis is stimulated by inflammation and inhibited by Fe deficiency, the strength of their opposing effects on serum hepcidin (SHep) in humans remains unclear. It was recently shown that an inflammatory stimulus in anaemic women did not increase SHep or decrease Fe absorption. The enhancing effect of ascorbic acid on Fe absorption may not be effective during inflammation because of increased SHep. Our study aim was to test whether reducing inflammation in Fe-depleted overweight (OW) women with low-grade inflammation would lower SHep and improve Fe absorption with and without ascorbic acid, compared with normal-weight (NW) women without inflammation. Before and after 14 d of anti-inflammatory treatment (3 × 600 mg ibuprofen daily) in OW and NW women (n 36; 19–46 years of age), we measured SHep and fractional Fe absorption (FIA) (erythrocyte Fe incorporation) from 57Fe- and 58Fe-labelled test meals with and without ascorbic acid. There were significant group effects on IL-6, C-reactive protein, serum ferritin and SHep (for all, P < 0·05). There was a significant treatment effect on SHep (P < 0·05): in OW women, treatment decreased IL-6 by approximately 30 % and SHep by approximately 45 %. However, there were no significant treatment or group effects on FIA. Body Fe stores (BIS) were a significant positive predictor of SHep before and after treatment (P < 0·001), but IL-6 was not. Reducing chronic inflammation in OW women halved SHep but did not affect Fe absorption with or without ascorbic acid, and the main predictor of Fe absorption was BIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Resveratrol (Res), a phytoalexin, has been widely reported to participate in plant resistance to fungal infections. However, little information is available on its role in abiotic stress, especially in iron deficiency stress. Malus baccata is widely used as apple rootstock in China, but it is sensitive to iron deficiency. Results: In this study, we investigated the role of exogenous Res in M. baccata seedings under iron deficiency stress. Results showed that applying 100 μM exogenous Res could alleviate iron deficiency stress. The seedlings treated with Res had a lower etiolation rate and higher chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate compared with the apple seedlings without Res treatment. Exogenous Res increased the iron content in the roots and leaves by inducing the expression of MbAHA genes and improving the H+-ATPase activity. As a result, the rhizosphere pH decreased, iron solubility increased, the expression of MbFRO2 and MbIRT1 was induced, and the ferric-chelated reductase activity was enhanced to absorb large amounts of Fe2+ into the root cells under iron deficiency conditions. Moreover, exogenous Res application increased the contents of IAA, ABA, and GA3 and decreased the contents of DHZR and BL for responding to iron deficiency stress indirectly. In addition, Res functioned as an antioxidant that strengthened the activities of antioxidant enzymes and thus eliminated reactive oxygen species production induced by iron deficiency stress. Conclusion: Resveratrol improves the iron deficiency adaptation of M. baccata seedlings mainly by regulating iron absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Iron deficiency during pregnancy is a global health problem and is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The aim of this randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study was to evaluate the effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v (Lp299v, 1010 colony forming units), 4.2 mg iron, 12 mg ascorbic acid and 30 µg folic acid (Lp) on iron status in healthy, non‐anemic, pregnant Swedish women. Material and methods: A total of 326 women were randomized to receive Lp (n = 161) or placebo (n = 165) twice daily from gestational week 10–12 until end of pregnancy or until the potential start of iron therapy. The primary endpoint was serum ferritin at week 28. Results: Intake of Lp attenuated the decrease in serum ferritin from baseline to week 28 (p = 0.003) and week 35 (p ˂ 0.001) and resulted in reduced prevalence of iron deficiency (59% vs 78%, p = 0.017) and iron deficiency anemia (7.4% vs 21%, p = 0.023) at week 35. Intake of Lp also resulted in beneficial effects on the soluble transferrin receptor (p = 0.011) and total body iron (p ˂ 0.001) at week 35. Gestational length and birthweight were comparable between groups. The proportion of women reporting adverse events during the study was comparable between groups. Conclusions: Intake of Lp from early pregnancy was safe, attenuated the loss of iron stores and improved iron status in healthy pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Inadequate nutritional status contributes to substantial losses in human health and productivity globally. A multiple biofortified food crop trial targeting iron, zinc, and vitamin A deficiencies among young children and their breastfeeding mothers is being conducted in India. Objective We sought to determine the relative iron bioavailability from biofortified and conventional crops and crop combinations representative of a cyclical menu using crops targeted for inclusion in the feeding trial. Methods Crops were procured from India, cooked, freeze-dried, and analyzed with an established in vitro digestion/Caco-2 iron bioavailability assay using a fixed sample weight. Crop proportions representative of meals planned for the human study were determined and combined such that samples included either all biofortified or all control crops. Crops were analyzed as single crops (n  = 4) or crop combinations (n  = 7) by variety (biofortified or control) in triplicate. The primary outcome was iron uptake measured by Caco-2 ferritin production normalized to total Caco-2 protein (nanograms of ferritin/milligrams of cell protein) analyzed for effects of crop variety and crop proportion using generalized linear models. Results Biofortified pearl millet alone demonstrated higher iron uptake than conventional varieties (5.01 ± 1.66 vs. 2.17 ± 0.96; P  = 0.036). Addition of sweet potato or sweet potato + pulse improved iron uptake for all proportions tested in control varieties and select proportions for biofortified varieties (P  ≤ 0.05). Two multiple crop combinations demonstrated modestly higher iron uptake from biofortified crops. Conclusions Optimizing total iron delivery should consider matrix effects, processing, and promoters/inhibitors of iron absorption in addition to total iron concentration. Future directions include evaluating recipes as prepared for consumption and comparison against human iron bioavailability studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phlebotomies are performed in hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) to maintain normal iron concentrations. Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) can reduce the number of phlebotomies in patients with HH. However, in patients without HH, the iron concentrations do not appear to be compromised when using PPIs. Therefore, we aim to explain the differences in iron absorption between patients with and without HH. In 10 p.cysteine282tyrosine (p.C282Y) homozygous HH patients with normalized iron stores and 10 healthy control subjects (HCs), the iron parameters and hepcidin concentrations were determined before ingestion of a pharmacological dose of 50 mg iron [ferric iron (Fe3+)] polymaltose and hourly for 4 h afterward. This was repeated after 7 days of treatment with pantoprazole 40 mg once daily. Serum iron concentrations and transferrin saturation percentages dropped significantly during PPI use in the patients with HH, whereas no changes were observed in the HCs. Hepcidin concentrations were lower in the patients with HH compared with the HCs both before and during PPI use. In both groups, hepcidin levels did not significantly decrease during the treatment. Seven-day PPI use significantly reduces iron absorption in patients with HH but not in HCs. Changes in hepcidin concentrations could not explain these different PPI effects on iron absorption probably due to a small sample size. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study confirms that lowering gastric acidity by proton pump inhibitors results in a reduction in iron absorption in patients with hemochromatosis and not in healthy control subjects. The presupposition that a decrease in hepcidin concentration in healthy control subjects in response to lowering gastric acidity can explain the difference in iron absorption between these groups could not be confirmed probably because of a small sample size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Long-term isotopic dilution measurements of body iron may allow quantification of basal body iron balance and iron gains during an iron intervention with higher precision and accuracy than conventional iron indices. Objectives We compared body iron balance before, during, and after oral iron supplementation in women in Benin and in Switzerland. Methods In prospective studies, Beninese (n  = 11) and Swiss (n  = 10) women previously labeled with stable iron isotopes were followed preintervention for 90–120 d, then received 50-mg iron daily for 90–120 d and were followed postintervention for 90–120 d. We used changes in blood isotopic composition to calculate iron absorption (Feabs), iron loss (Feloss), and net iron balance (Fegain). Results Compliance with supplementation was >90%. In Benin, during the preintervention, intervention, and postintervention periods, Fe means ± SDs were as follows: 1) Feabs: 0.92 ± 1.05, 3.75 ± 2.07, and 0.90 ± 0.93 mg/d; 2) Feloss: 1.46 ± 1.95, 1.58 ± 1.57, and 1.84 ± 1.61 mg/d; and 3) Fegain: −0.55 ± 1.56 mg/d, 2.17 ± 1.81 mg/d, and −0.94 ± 1.13 mg/d. In Switzerland, the corresponding values were: 1) 1.51 ± 0.37, 4.09 ± 1.52, and 0.97 ± 0.41 mg/d; 2) 0.76 ± 1.37, 2.54 ± 1.43, and 2.08 ± 1.05 mg/d; and 3) 0.75 ± 1.37, 1.55 ± 1.75, and −1.11 ± 1.06 mg/d. Inflammation was low in both settings, and isotopically calculated iron balance was comparable to that calculated from changes in conventional iron indices. Conclusion Without iron supplementation, Beninese women had lower long-term dietary iron absorption and higher iron losses in the preintervention period than Swiss women. During iron supplementation, both groups had high iron absorption and similar iron gains. However, there was a 3-fold increase in iron losses in the Swiss women during the supplementation and postintervention period compared with the preintervention period. Body iron isotope dilution is a promising new method for quantifying long-term body iron balance and for assessing the impact of iron interventions. The studies were registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02979080 and NCT02979132, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Long-term feeding of prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) increases iron absorption in African infants, but the underlying mechanism and how long GOS need to be fed to infants to achieve an increase in absorption is uncertain.Objectives: In Kenyan infants, we tested whether the addition of GOS to a single test meal would affect iron absorption from a micronutrient powder (MNP) containing ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) and another MNP containing ferrous fumarate (FeFum) and sodium iron ethylenediaminetetraacetate (NaFeEDTA).Methods: In a randomized-entry, prospective crossover study, iron deficient (87%) and anemic (70%) Kenyan infants (n  = 23; mean ± SD age, 9.9 ± 2.1 months) consumed 4 stable iron isotope-labeled maize porridge meals fortified with MNPs containing 5 mg iron as FeFum + NaFeEDTA, or FeSO4, either without or with 7.5 g GOS. The primary outcome, fractional iron absorption (FIA), was assessed by erythrocyte incorporation of isotopic labels. Data were analyzed using a 2-way repeated-measures ANOVA.Results: There was no significant interaction between GOS and the iron compounds on FIA, and the addition of GOS did not have a significant effect on FIA. There was a statistically significant difference in FIA between the meals fortified with FeSO4 and with FeFum + NaFeEDTA (P  < 0.001).Given with GOS, FIA from FeSO4 was 40% higher than from FeFum + NaFeEDTA (P  < 0.001); given without GOS, it was 51% higher (P  < 0.01).Conclusions: The addition of GOS to a single iron-fortified maize porridge test meal in Kenyan infants did not significantly increase iron absorption, suggesting long-term feeding of GOS may be needed to enhance iron absorption at this age. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02666417. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is very common and affects approximately 1/3 of the world’s human population. There are strong research data that some probiotics, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum improve iron absorption and influence the course of anemia. Furthermore, prebiotics, including galactooligosaccharides (GOS) and fructooligosaccharides (FOS), increase iron bioavailability and decrease its destructive effect on the intestinal microbiota. In addition, multiple postbiotics, which are probiotic metabolites, including vitamins, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), and tryptophan, are involved in the regulation of intestinal absorption and may influence iron status in humans. This review presents the actual data from research studies on the influence of probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics on the prevention and therapy of IDA and the latest findings regarding their mechanisms of action. A comparison of the latest research data and theories regarding the role of pre-, post-, and probiotics and the mechanism of their action in anemias is also presented and discussed.

Background: In non-screening hemochromatosis patients with HFE C282Y homozygosity who achieve iron depletion, the proton pump inhibitor (PPI) omeprazole decreases non-heme iron absorption from test meals and decreases maintenance phlebotomy requirements. We sought to determine the effect of taking PPIs and histamine H2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) on serum ferritin (SF) levels in C282Y homozygotes diagnosed in a screening study.Methods: We compared mean ln SF in 171 homozygotes (60 men, 111 women) who reported taking and not taking PPIs and H2RAs. We performed linear regression on ln post-screening SF using age, sex, reports of taking PPIs and H2RAs, and free thyroxine levels.Results: Eleven homozygotes (6.4%) took PPIs; twelve (6.7%) took H2RAs. Mean ln SF values of male and female homozygotes who took PPIs were ~one-half those of homozygotes without PPI reports, but the differences were not significant. In an initial five-factor regression model, H2RAs and free thyroxine levels were not significant predictors of ln SF. In a final three-factor regression model, taking PPIs was associated with lower ln SF (p=0.0031) after controlling for age and sex. The final model explained 31% of the variance in ln SF. Use of H2RAs was not independently associated with ln SF.Conclusions: Taking PPIs is associated with lower SF levels in HFE C282Y homozygotes diagnosed in screening. Inorganic iron absorption may be decreased in some homozygotes who take PPIs; others who take PPIs may have upper gastrointestinal lesions that lower SF due to blood loss.

Background The role of genetic determinants in mediating iron status in Africans is not fully understood. Genome-wide association studies in non-African populations have revealed genetic variants in the transmembrane protease serine 6 gene (TMPRSS6) that are associated with the risk of anemia. Objectives To investigate the effects of risk alleles for low iron status, namely TMPRSS6 rs2235321, rs855791, and rs4820268, on responses to oral iron in healthy Gambian adults. Methods Using a recall-by-genotype design, participants were selected from a pregenotype cohort of 3000 individuals in the Keneba Biobank (Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine). Participants were invited to participate in the study based on 9 genotype combinations obtained from 3 TMPRSS6 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): rs2235321, rs855791, and rs4820268. The participants fasted overnight and then ingested a single oral dose of ferrous sulfate (130 mg elemental iron). Blood samples were collected prior to iron ingestion and at 2 and 5 h after the oral iron dose. The effects of genotype on hepcidin and plasma iron parameters were assessed. Results A total of 251 individuals were enrolled. Homozygous carriers of the major TMPRSS6 alleles at each of the SNPs had higher plasma hepcidin at baseline (rs2235321: GG compared with AA = 9.50 compared with 6.60 ng/ml, P  = 0.035; rs855791: GG compared with AG = 9.50 compared with 4.96 ng/mL, P  = 0.015; rs4820268: AA compared with GG = 9.50 compared with 3.27 ng/mL,   P  = 0.002) and at subsequent timepoints. In most subjects, hepcidin concentrations increased following iron ingestion (overall group mean = 4.98 ± 0.98 ng/mL at 5 h, P  < 0.001), but double heterozygotes at rs2235321 and rs855791 showed no increase (0.36 ± 0.40 ng/mL at 5 h, P  = 0.667). Conclusions This study revealed that common TMPRSS6 variants influence hepcidin concentrations, but not iron status indicators either at baseline or following a large oral dose of iron. These results suggest that genetic variations in the TMPRSS6 gene are unlikely to be important contributors to variations in iron status in Africans. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (# NCT03341338). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: We report the first measurements of long‐term iron absorption and loss during iron supplementation in African children using a stable isotope of iron (57Fe). After uniform labelling of body iron with 57Fe, iron absorption is proportional to the rate of decrease in the 57Fe tracer concentration, while iron loss is proportional to the rate of decrease in the 57Fe tracer amount. Anaemic Gambian toddlers were given 2 mg 57Fe orally to equilibrate with total body iron over 8–11 months. After assignment to the positive control arm of the HIGH study, 22 toddlers consumed a micronutrient powder containing 12 mg iron for 12 weeks followed by 12 weeks without iron supplementation. Their daily iron absorption increased 3·8‐fold during the iron supplementation period compared to the control period [median (interquartile range, IQR): 1·00 (0·82; 1·28) mg/day vs. 0·26 (0·22; 0·35) mg/day; P = 0·001]. Unexpectedly, during the supplementation period, daily iron loss also increased by 3·4‐fold [0·75 (0·55; 0·87) mg/day vs. 0·22 (0·19; 0·29) mg/day; P = 0·005]. Consequently, most (~72%) of the absorbed iron was lost during supplementation. Long‐term studies of iron absorption and loss are a promising and accurate method for assessing and quantifying long‐term iron balance and may provide a reference method for evaluating iron intervention programs in vulnerable population groups. This study was registered as ISRCTN 0720906. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased interest in achieving, solely through diet, the same effect on iron levels with supplementation, leads to numerous studies on iron absorption of iron binding proteins (IBPs). The characteristics of IBPs from Tegillarca granosa (T. granosa) and its iron utilization were determined to analyze their relationship. The results showed in T. granosa, Fe(ӀӀ) was main iron form in hemoglobin (TH) and that Fe(ӀӀ) and Fe(ӀӀӀ) coexisted in ferritin (TF). After in vitro digestion, TH was easier to be digested than TF, bovine hemoglobin, and bovine ferritin. In caco‐2 cells model, iron bioavailability of TH also was the best, which related to TH's superior fluid properties, higher ratios of α‐helix to β‐sheet and amide I to amide II. These suggest TH could be used as a good source of organic iron and provide references for application of T. granosa in human nutrition. Practical applications: This research investigated the iron bioavailability and structural properties of iron‐binding proteins from Tegillarca granosa (T. granosa). Moreover, the effects of iron absorption in bovine hemoglobin and ferritin were compared with those from T. granosa. The results showed the hemoglobin in T. granosa had better iron bioavailability and it could be a good source of iron. These data could provide a basic instruction of the application of T. granosa in functional food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased iron loss may reduce the effectiveness of iron supplementation. The objective of this study was to determine if daily oral iron supplementation increases iron loss, measured using a stable isotope of iron ( 58 Fe). We enrolled and dewormed 24 iron-depleted Kenyan children, 24-27 months of age, whose body iron was enriched and equilibrated with 58 Fe given at least 1 year earlier. Over 3 months of supplementation (6 mg iron/kg body weight [BW]/day), mean (±SD) iron absorption was 1.10 (±0.28) mg/day. During supplementation, 0.55 (±0.36) mg iron/day was lost, equal to half of the amount of absorbed iron. Supplementation did not increase faecal haem/porphyrin or biomarkers of enterocyte damage and gut or systemic inflammation. Using individual patient data, we examined iron dose, absorption and loss among all available long-term iron isotopic studies of supplementation. Expressed in terms of body weight, daily iron loss was correlated significantly with iron absorption (Pearson's r = 0.66 [95% confidence interval 0.48-0.78]) but not with iron dose (r = 0.16 [95% CI -0.10-0.40]). The results of this study indicate that iron loss is increased with daily oral iron supplementation and may blunt the efficacy of iron supplements in children. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT04721964., (© 2024 British Society for Haematology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Sweetpotato and potato are fast-maturing staple crops and widely consumed in low- and middle-income countries. Conventional breeding to biofortify these crops with iron could improve iron intakes. To our knowledge, iron absorption from sweetpotato and potato has not been assessed.Objective: The aim was to assess iron absorption from regular and iron-biofortified orange-fleshed sweetpotato in Malawi and yellow-fleshed potato and iron-biofortified purple-fleshed potato in Peru.Methods: We conducted 2 randomized, multiple-meal studies in generally healthy, iron-depleted women of reproductive age. Malawian women (n = 24) received 400 g regular or biofortified sweetpotato test meals and Peruvian women (n = 35) received 500 g regular or biofortified potato test meals. Women consumed the meals at breakfast for 2 wk and were then crossed over to the other variety. We labeled the test meals with 57Fe or 58Fe and measured cumulative erythrocyte incorporation of the labels 14 d after completion of each test-meal sequence to calculate iron absorption. Iron absorption was compared by paired-sample t tests.Results: The regular and biofortified orange-fleshed sweetpotato test meals contained 0.55 and 0.97 mg Fe/100 g. Geometric mean (95% CI) fractional iron absorption (FIA) was 5.82% (3.79%, 8.95%) and 6.02% (4.51%, 8.05%), respectively (P = 0.81), resulting in 1.9-fold higher total iron absorption (TIA) from biofortified sweetpotato (P < 0.001). The regular and biofortified potato test meals contained 0.33 and 0.69 mg Fe/100 g. FIA was 28.4% (23.5%, 34.2%) from the regular yellow-fleshed and 13.3% (10.6%, 16.6%) from the biofortified purple-fleshed potato meals, respectively (P < 0.001), resulting in no significant difference in TIA (P = 0.88).Conclusions: FIA from regular yellow-fleshed potato was remarkably high, at 28%. Iron absorbed from both potato test meals covered 33% of the daily absorbed iron requirement for women of reproductive age, while the biofortified orange-fleshed sweetpotato test meal covered 18% of this requirement. High polyphenol concentrations were likely the major inhibitors of iron absorption. These trials were registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03840031 (Malawi) and NCT04216030 (Peru). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Whether lactoferrin (Lf) binds iron to facilitate its absorption or to sequester iron from potential enteropathogens remains uncertain. Bovine Lf is added to many infant formulas, but previous studies in infants reported that Lf had no effect on or inhibited iron absorption. The effects of the apo (iron-free) or the holo (iron-loaded) forms of Lf on iron absorption are unclear.Objectives: Our objective was to compare iron absorption from a maize-based porridge containing: 1) labeled ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) alone; 2) labeled FeSO4 given with bovine apo-Lf; and 3) intrinsically labeled bovine holo-Lf.Methods: In a crossover study, we measured iron absorption in Kenyan infants (n = 25; mean ± SD age 4.2 ± 0.9 months; mean ± SD hemoglobin 109 ± 11 g/L) from maize-based test meals containing: 1) 1.5 mg of iron as 54Fe-labeled FeSO4; 2) 1.42 mg of iron as 58Fe-labeled FeSO4, given with 1.41 g apo-Lf (containing 0.08 mg iron); and 3) 1.41 g holo-Lf carrying 1.5 mg iron as 57Fe. The iron saturation levels of apo- and holo-Lf were 0.56% and 47.26%, respectively primary outcome was fractional iron absorption (FIA), assessed by erythrocyte incorporation of isotopic labels.Results: The FIA from the meal containing apo-Lf + FeSO4 (geometric mean, 9.8%; -SD and +SD, 5.4% and 17.5%) was higher than from the meals containing FeSO4 (geometric mean, 6.3%; -SD and +SD, 3.2% and 12.6%; P = 0.002) or holo-Lf (geometric mean, 5.0%; -SD and +SD, 2.8% and 8.9%; P <0.0001). There was no significant difference in FIA when comparing the meals containing holo-Lf versus FeSO4 alone (P = 0.24).Conclusions: The amount of iron absorbed from holo-Lf was comparable to that of FeSO4, and the addition of apo-Lf to a test meal containing FeSO4 significantly increased (+56%) iron absorption. These findings suggest that Lf facilitates iron absorption in young infants. Because Lf binds iron with high affinity, it could be a safe way to provide iron to infants in low-income countries, where iron fortificants can adversely affect the gut microbiome and cause diarrhea. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03617575. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this study, haemoglobin was hydrolysed by compound protease to produce haem‐enriched peptides in order to improve the bio‐absorptivity of haem iron. The hydrolysis process was optimised through an orthogonal experiment. The molecular weight, solubility and absorptivity of haem‐enriched peptides were also investigated. The optimal hydrolysis process was papain/alkaline protease ratio 6:4, enzyme content 9000 U g−1, hydrolysis at 50 °C and pH 8 conditions for 4 h. After hydrolysis at this condition, the haem released amount and haem/peptide ratio were 89.6% and 28.2%, respectively. The molecular weight of the haem‐enriched peptides was mainly distributed in 3–14.4 kD, and the solubility increased significantly with pH increasing. Caco‐2 cell absorption experiment demonstrated that the iron absorption of haem‐enriched peptides was significantly higher (50.25 ng ferritin per mg protein) than haemin chloride, haemoglobin and collagen plus haemin chloride complex. This study provides a very promising way for the development of iron supplement products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]