Iron Dialyzability in a Multiple Nutrient Formulation and Effect of the Addition of Separate Nutrients

Abstract

Introduction: Different nutrients added to nutritional formu lations can facilitate, reduce or b lock the iron absorption. Objective: The aims of this study was to assess the modulation of iron bioavailabily by other minerals and vi-tamins in an mu ltip le nutrient formu lation and in an aqueous iron solution. Material and Methods: We analyzed the iron dialy zability in the mu ltiple nutrients formu lation developed to simu late an enteral diet. Furthermo re, the iron dialy zability was determined in aqueous solutions containing 25 mg o f iron, which were added separately usual amounts of soluble fiber, salt mixture, vitamin mixture, calciu m and v itamin C. The d ialysed iron was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. Results: In the multip le nutrients formu lation, we docu mented low bioavailab ility of iron (0.80 ± 0.01%). Co mpared with the aqueous iron solution (70.0 ± 6.0%), the addit ion of 135 mg of vitamin C increased the iron d ialy zability (90.0 ± 3.0%). There was reduction of iron dialysis after addit ion of soluble fiber (1.00 ± 0.01%), the v itamin mixture (25.00 ± 0.12%), salt mixture (2.00 ± 0.06%) and calciu m (0.80 ± 0.02%). Conclusion: The low iron bioavailability in the mu ltip le nutrients formulation can be attributed to the protein source and supply of fiber and calciu m, thereby affecting the absorption of iron.