|
|
||||||||
Original Research Communications |
Background: The characteristics of vegetarian diets suggest that these diets would have lower dietary iron bioavailability than nonvegetarian diets, but there is no evidence of iron deficiency in vegetarians.
Objective: We evaluated the responsiveness of serum and fecal ferritin to differences in iron absorption from controlled lactoovovegetarian and nonvegetarian diets.
Design: Twenty-one women aged 2042 y with serum ferritin concentrations from 6 to 149 µg/L consumed lactoovovegetarian and nonvegetarian weighed diets for 8 wk each (crossover design). The diets differed substantially in meat and phytic acid contents. Nonheme-iron absorption was measured from the whole diets after 4 wk by using extrinsic 59Fe and whole-body counting. Ferritin in extracts of fecal composites and in serum was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay the last 2 wk of each diet.
Results: Nonheme-iron absorption was less from the lactoovovegetarian diet than from the nonvegetarian diet (1.1% compared with 3.8%; P < 0.01; n = 10). Diet did not affect hemoglobin, transferrin saturation, erythrocyte protoporphyrin, or serum ferritin. Substantially less fecal ferritin was excreted with the lactoovovegetarian diet than with the nonvegetarian diet (1.1 compared with 6.0 µg/d, respectively; P < 0.01; n = 21).
Conclusions: This research indicates 1) 70% lower nonheme-iron absorption from a lactoovovegetarian diet than from a nonvegetarian diet; 2) an associated decrease in fecal ferritin excretion, suggesting partial physiologic adaptation to increase the efficiency of iron absorption; and 3) an insensitivity of blood iron indexes, including serum ferritin, to substantial differences in dietary iron absorption for 8 wk.
Key Words: Nonheme-iron absorption bioavailability iron status serum ferritin fecal ferritin gastrointestinal adaptation lactoovovegetarian diets meat phytic acid hormonal contraceptives women
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
C. D. San Martin, C. Garri, F. Pizarro, T. Walter, E. C. Theil, and M. T. Nunez Caco-2 Intestinal Epithelial Cells Absorb Soybean Ferritin by {micro}2 (AP2)-Dependent Endocytosis J. Nutr., April 1, 2008; 138(4): 659 - 666. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. M Beiseigel, J. R Hunt, R. P Glahn, R. M Welch, A. Menkir, and B. B Maziya-Dixon Iron bioavailability from maize and beans: a comparison of human measurements with Caco-2 cell and algorithm predictions Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2007; 86(2): 388 - 396. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. H. Swain, L. K. Johnson, and J. R. Hunt Electrolytic Iron or Ferrous Sulfate Increase Body Iron in Women with Moderate to Low Iron Stores J. Nutr., March 1, 2007; 137(3): 620 - 627. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. M. Hodgson, N. C. Ward, V. Burke, L. J. Beilin, and I. B. Puddey Increased Lean Red Meat Intake Does Not Elevate Markers of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Humans J. Nutr., February 1, 2007; 137(2): 363 - 367. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. H. Swain, L. K. Johnson, and J. R. Hunt An Irradiated Electrolytic Iron Fortificant Is Poorly Absorbed by Humans and Is Less Responsive than FeSO4 to the Enhancing Effect of Ascorbic Acid J. Nutr., August 1, 2006; 136(8): 2167 - 2174. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. B. Reddy, R. F. Hurrell, and J. D. Cook Meat Consumption in a Varied Diet Marginally Influences Nonheme Iron Absorption in Normal Individuals J. Nutr., March 1, 2006; 136(3): 576 - 581. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. Yun, J.-P. Habicht, D. D. Miller, and R. P. Glahn An In Vitro Digestion/Caco-2 Cell Culture System Accurately Predicts the Effects of Ascorbic Acid and Polyphenolic Compounds on Iron Bioavailability in Humans J. Nutr., October 1, 2004; 134(10): 2717 - 2721. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. R Hunt High-, but not low-bioavailability diets enable substantial control of women's iron absorption in relation to body iron stores, with minimal adaptation within several weeks Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, December 1, 2003; 78(6): 1168 - 1177. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. H Haddad and J. S Tanzman What do vegetarians in the United States eat? Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, September 1, 2003; 78(3): 626S - 632. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. R Hunt Bioavailability of iron, zinc, and other trace minerals from vegetarian diets Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, September 1, 2003; 78(3): 633S - 639. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. B Baech, M. Hansen, K. Bukhave, M. Jensen, S. S Sorensen, L. Kristensen, P. P Purslow, L. H Skibsted, and B. Sandstrom Nonheme-iron absorption from a phytate-rich meal is increased by the addition of small amounts of pork meat Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2003; 77(1): 173 - 179. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
Z. K Roughead, C. A Zito, and J. R Hunt Initial uptake and absorption of nonheme iron and absorption of heme iron in humans are unaffected by the addition of calcium as cheese to a meal with high iron bioavailability Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2002; 76(2): 419 - 425. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. A. Venti and C. S. Johnston Modified Food Guide Pyramid for Lactovegetarians and Vegans J. Nutr., May 1, 2002; 132(5): 1050 - 1054. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. R Hunt and R. A Vanderpool Apparent copper absorption from a vegetarian diet Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, December 1, 2001; 74(6): 803 - 807. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
||||
![]() |
J. R Hunt How important is dietary iron bioavailability? Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2001; 73(1): 3 - 4. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
Z. K Roughead and J. R Hunt Adaptation in iron absorption: iron supplementation reduces nonheme-iron but not heme-iron absorption from food Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, October 1, 2000; 72(4): 982 - 989. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. R Hunt and Z. K Roughead Adaptation of iron absorption in men consuming diets with high or low iron bioavailability1 Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2000; 71(1): 94 - 102. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. R Monsen The ironies of iron Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 1999; 69(5): 831 - 832. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |