Iron Bio-accessibility and Nutritional Attributes of Selected Disease Specific Commercial Formulations

Abstract

Iron deficiency is the most common form of malnutrition in the world, affecting more than 2 billion people globally. Food labeling is an important tool that provides information on the nutritional composition data to consumers. However, the information on bio accessibility values is limited; therefore, the aim of the present study is to promote the nutritional labeling by the inclusion of bio accessibility values of micronutrients of importance along with nutritional composition data. Commercial supplements commonly used for disease specific conditions were selected & their iron bio accessibility was determined by equilibrium dialysis involving an in vitro simulated digestion procedure.  The formulations were also subjected to nutritional composition analysis & functional properties by standard AOAC methods. The total iron content of the supplements ranged between 8.66±0.5mg/100g to 21.72±1.44 mg/100g whereas the bio accessibility of micronutrient iron ranged between 0.05±0.01 mg/100g to 0.32±0.20mg/100g. The % iron bio accessibility was also determined & ranged between 0.23-2.52%. Thus inclusion of bio accessibility values of vital micronutrients along with usual nutritional composition data employs as an effective tool to combat various micronutrient deficiencies. Therefore, application of supplements with higher bioavailability may result in usage of lower doses of iron with fewer side effects, thus improving treatment efficacy. This novel information has the potential application in nutritional labeling to improve the bioavailability of trace minerals and hence contributes to the human health benefit.