Iron absorption in humans: bovine serum albumin compared with beef muscle and egg white

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Am. J. Clin. Nutr.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5405526

Hurrell, R F; Lynch, S R; Trinidad, T P; Dassenko, S A; Cook, J D

We studied the influence of bovine serum albumin and beef meat on nonheme iron absorption in humans and on dialyzable iron in vitro. The addition of serum albumin to a maize gruel had no significant effect on nonheme Fe absorption whereas the addition of beef meat caused a threefold increase. When added to a bread meal, serum albumin caused a modest 60% increase in nonheme Fe absorption and beef meat had no effect. When added to a protein-free meal, serum albumin reduced Fe absorption by 47% compared with a 72% reduction on addition of egg white. The bioavailability of nonheme Fe from meals containing serum albumin was consistently overestimated by the in vitro technique. We conclude that the facilitation of nonheme Fe absorption by meat is not a general property of all animal protein but is better explained by the action of one or more specific animal tissues.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City
• OSTI ID: 5405526
• Journal Information: Am. J. Clin. Nutr.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Clin. Nutr.; (United States) Vol. 47:1; ISSN AJCNA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ABSORPTION
ALBUMINS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL AVAILABILITY
CATTLE
CEREALS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DIGESTION
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
ELEMENTS
FOOD
GRASS
INTESTINAL ABSORPTION
IRON
MAMMALS
MAN
MEAT
METALS
MUSCLES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
PRIMATES
PROTEINS
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
RUMINANTS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
UPTAKE
VERTEBRATES