TY - JOUR
T1 - The usefulness of elemental iron for cereal flour fortification
T2 - A Sustain Task Force report
AU - Hurrell, Richard
AU - Bothwell, Thomas
AU - Cook, James D.
AU - Dary, Omar
AU - Davidsson, Lena
AU - Fairweather-Tait, Susan
AU - Hallberg, Leif
AU - Lynch, Sean
AU - Rosado, Jorge
AU - Walter, Tomas
AU - Whittaker, Paul
PY - 2002/12/1
Y1 - 2002/12/1
N2 - Fortification of cereal flours may be a useful public health strategy to combat iron deficiency. Cereal flours that are used shortly after production (e.g., baking flour) can be fortified with soluble iron compounds, such as ferrous sulfate, whereas the majority of flours stored for longer periods is usually fortified with elemental iron powders to avoid unacceptable sensory changes. Elemental iron powders are less well absorbed than soluble iron compounds and they vary widely in their absorption depending on manufacturing method and physicochemical characteristics. Costs vary with powder type, but elemental iron powders are generally less expensive than ferrous sulfate. This review evaluates the usefulness of the different elemental iron powders based on results from in vitro studies, rat assays, human bioavailability studies, and efficacy studies monitoring iron status in human subjects. It concludes that, at the present time, only electrolytic iron powder can be recommended as an iron fortificant. Because it is only approximately half as well absorbed as ferrous sulfate, it should be added to provide double the amount of iron.
AB - Fortification of cereal flours may be a useful public health strategy to combat iron deficiency. Cereal flours that are used shortly after production (e.g., baking flour) can be fortified with soluble iron compounds, such as ferrous sulfate, whereas the majority of flours stored for longer periods is usually fortified with elemental iron powders to avoid unacceptable sensory changes. Elemental iron powders are less well absorbed than soluble iron compounds and they vary widely in their absorption depending on manufacturing method and physicochemical characteristics. Costs vary with powder type, but elemental iron powders are generally less expensive than ferrous sulfate. This review evaluates the usefulness of the different elemental iron powders based on results from in vitro studies, rat assays, human bioavailability studies, and efficacy studies monitoring iron status in human subjects. It concludes that, at the present time, only electrolytic iron powder can be recommended as an iron fortificant. Because it is only approximately half as well absorbed as ferrous sulfate, it should be added to provide double the amount of iron.
KW - Cereal fortification
KW - Elemental iron
KW - Iron bioavailability
KW - Wheat flour fortification
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036919850&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1301/002966402320964061
DO - 10.1301/002966402320964061
M3 - Review article
C2 - 12521144
AN - SCOPUS:0036919850
VL - 60
SP - 391
EP - 406
JO - Nutrition Reviews
JF - Nutrition Reviews
SN - 0029-6643
IS - 12
ER -