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Effective iron fortification of foods is difficult, because water-soluble compounds that are well absorbed, such as ferrous sulphate (FeSO(4)), often cause unacceptable changes in the colour or taste of foods. Poorly water-soluble compounds, on the other hand, cause fewer sensory changes, but are not well absorbed. Here, we show that poorly water-soluble nanosized Fe and Fe/Zn compounds (specific surface area approximately 190 m(2) g(-1)) made by scalable flame aerosol technology have in vivo iron bioavailability in rats comparable to FeSO(4) and cause less colour change in reactive food matrices than conventional iron fortificants. The addition of Zn to FePO(4) and Mg to Fe/Zn oxide increases Fe absorption from the compounds, and doping with Mg also improves their colour. After feeding rats with nanostructured iron-containing compounds, no stainable Fe was detected in their gut wall, gut-associated lymphatics or other tissues, suggesting no adverse effects. Nanosizing of poorly water-soluble Fe compounds sharply increases their absorption and nutritional value.

Original publication

DOI

10.1038/nnano.2010.79

Type

Journal article

Journal

Nat Nanotechnol

Publication Date

05/2010

Volume

5

Pages

374 - 380

Keywords

Animals, Biological Availability, Color, Electrolysis, Feeding Behavior, Food, Fortified, Hemoglobins, Iron, Male, Nanoparticles, Organ Specificity, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Solubility, Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances, Weight Gain, Zinc