Sugar as a vehicle for iron fortification.

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Food Fortification

Background:

• Traditional iron fortification methods face challenges with vehicle stability and iron bioavailability.
• Sugar has emerged as a promising alternative vehicle for iron fortification due to its inherent properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate sugar as a vehicle for iron fortification.
• To assess the stability of ferrous sulfate in sugar and its impact on iron absorption.

Main Methods:

• In vitro studies to assess ferrous sulfate stability in sugar.
• Human studies measuring iron absorption from fortified sugar consumed with various foods and beverages.

Main Results:

• Ferrous sulfate remained stable in sugar for over a year without adverse effects.
• Iron absorption from fortified sugar was comparable to native vegetal iron when mixed with vegetables.
• Iron absorption increased by over 50% when fortified sugar was consumed as a drink with meals.
• Consumption with beverages like orange juice, Coca-Cola, and Pepsi-Cola significantly enhanced iron absorption (0.45-0.66 ratio).
• Coffee and coffee with milk showed lower absorption ratios (0.30 and 0.15, respectively).

Conclusions:

• Iron fortification of sugar offers superior bioavailability compared to traditional methods like bread and wheat fortification.
• Sugar fortification is a viable strategy for preventing iron deficiency, especially in populations with high beverage consumption.
• This approach holds significant potential for public health interventions in developing countries.