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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #149517
Title: CALCIUM FORTIFICATION OF BREAKFAST CEREAL ENHANCES CALCIUM ABOSORPTION IN CHILDREN WITHOUT AFFECTING IRON ABSORPTION

Author
item DAVILA, PENNI - BAYLOR COL OF MED
item GRIFFIN, IAN - BAYLOR COL OF MED
item LIANG, LILY - BAYLOR COL OF MED
item Abrams, Steven

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2000
Publication Date: 3/31/2003
Citation: DAVILA,P.M., GRIFFIN,I.J., LIANG,L., ABRAMS,S.A., CALCIUM FORTIFICATION OF BREAKFAST CEREAL ENHANCES CALCIUM ABOSORPTION IN CHILDREN WITHOUT AFFECTING IRON ABSORPTION, JOURNAL OF FEDERATION OF AMERICAN SOCIETIES FOR EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY, 2003. v. 15(5). p. A977. Abstract No. 751.1.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Providing calcium (Ca) fortified foods may represent an important component of improving Ca intakes of school-age children. 1) compare the absorption of Ca from a fortified cereal product, (Kix, General Mills Inc., Minneapolis, MN) relative to that from milk and; 2) evaluate whether provision of additional Ca in cereal would affect dietary iron (Fe) absorption. Twenty-seven children, 6 to 9 y of age, completed a double-blinded, crossover study in which they were provided two servings/day (30 g of cereal/serving) of either a low (39 mg/serving, Cer-Lo), or fortified (156 mg/serving, Cer-Fo), Ca-containing cereal product for 14 days. Iron intake was maintained at 8 mg/serving from the two cereals. Calcium absorption was measured using a multi-tracer stable isotope technique in which 46Ca was mixed with milk given with each meal, 48Ca was added during calcium fortification of the cereal and fed during breakfast and snack-time. 42Ca was administered intravenously. Iron absorption was measured from each diet using 57Fe and 58Fe. The absorption of calcium from Cer-Fo was similar to that from milk (30.6 ± 7.8% vs 28.9 ± 6.6%, respectively). Fractional absorption of Ca from milk did not differ significantly (P > 0.2) when given with Cer-Fo or Cer-Lo. Calculated total Ca absorption increased from 215 ± 45 mg/d (Cer-Lo) to 269 ± 45 mg/d on the Cer-Fo diet (P < 0.001). Urinary Ca excretion was unchanged on the two diets. Iron absorption was similar (P > 0.2) when receiving Cer-Fo (4.2 ± 3.5%) or Cer-Lo (3.9 ± 3.1%). Cereal fortified with a modest amount of Ca increased total Ca absorption and did not interfere with Fe absorption. The use of Ca-fortified foods may therefore be a practical approach to increasing Ca intake in children.