In vivo assessment of iron bioavailability from fortified pearl millet based weaning food

BACKGROUND: Iron is an essential micronutrient required for normal growth and development of the body. Infants are more vulnerable to develop iron-deficiency anaemia due to inadequate iron supply in early stages. The objective of the study was in vivo assessment of iron bioavailability from pearl millet based weaning food fortified with iron and vitamin A, and to investigate the role of vitamin A in iron absorption in animal models. RESULTS: Results revealed that anaemic group showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher bioavailability than that of normal rat models. Animals fed vitamin A supplemented pearl-millet diet exhibited comparable results with a sub-group provided commercially available weaning diet in both normal and anaemic groups, but significantly (P < 0.05) higher values for studied biological indices than that of a sub-group provided iron fortified pearl-millet or synthetic diet. When the anaemic rats were provided iron + vitamin A fortified diet, iron bioavailability increased and liver iron stores returned to the normal levels after 30 days, indicating a promoter role of vitamin A in intestinal iron absorption. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, bioavailability of electrolytic iron could be improved by supplementation of vitamin A, and this mixture can be considered as a useful fortificant for pearl millet based complementary foods fortification designed to prevent iron deficiency. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.