Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #203033
Title: Na2EDTA enhances the absorption of iron and zinc from fortified rice flour in Sri Lankan children

Author
item HETTIARACHCHI, MANJULA - UNIV OF RUHUNA, SRI LANKA
item HILMERS, DAVID - BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICIN
item LIYANAGE, CHANDRANI - UNIV OF RUHUNA, SRI LANKA
item Abrams, Steven

Submitted to: Journal of Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/26/2004
Publication Date: 11/13/2004
Citation: Hettiarachchi, M., Hilmers, D.C., Liyanage, C., Abrams, S.A. 2004. Na2EDTA enhances the absorption of iron and zinc from fortified rice flour in Sri Lankan children. Journal of Nutrition. 134(11):3031-3036.

Interpretive Summary: Rice is the most important food crop in the world. Finding better ways to add important nutrients, such as iron and zinc, to rice would be valuable in decreasing the risk of malnutrition. We worked with our colleagues in Sri Lanka to measure how much iron and zinc were absorbed from a special fortified rice flour consumed in that country. We found that a type of iron, ferrous sulfate, when given with a compound called sodium-iron EDTA led to a high level of iron absorption and increased zinc absorption as well. These findings are important to planners of fortified food products in developing countries. Continued research is needed to determine how to best keep these fortified foods from spoiling and introducing them to the population.

Technical Abstract: Rice flour was proposed as a vehicle for iron and zinc fortification in Sri Lanka. Although widely consumed, rice flour has not been evaluated as a fortified food, and the absorption of minerals including iron and zinc from this flour is unknown. Determination of the bioavailability of these nutrients is a critical step before commencing a fortification program. We randomly divided 53 Sri Lankan schoolchildren ages 6–10 y into 4 groups that consumed a local dish prepared with 25 g of fortified rice flour labeled with one of the following: 1) 58FeSO4, 2) 58FeSO4 + Na2EDTA, 3) 58FeSO4 + 67ZnO, or 4) 58FeSO4 + Na2EDTA + 67ZnO. The levels of iron and zinc were 60 mg/kg; the rice flour also contained folate at 2 mg/kg in each group. Na2EDTA was added at a Fe:Na2EDTA, 1:1 molar ratio. A total of 48 children completed the trial. Absorption of 58Fe from a meal was significantly greater (P < 0.01) in the groups administered FeSO4 + Na2EDTA (4.7 +/- 3.6%) than in those administered FeSO4 without Na2EDTA (2.2 +/- 1.3%). Fractional absorption of zinc was 13.5 +/- 6.0% in the FeSO4 + Na2EDTA group and 8.8 +/- 2.0% in the FeSO4 group (P = 0.037). Although zinc absorption was low, our results demonstrated a benefit in using Na2EDTA to improve both iron and zinc absorption. We conclude that the fortification of rice flour is feasible, although additional strategies such as dephytinization or an increase in the level of iron and zinc fortification should be considered to obtain a higher proportion of the daily requirement of total absorbed iron and zinc.