HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Adams, C. L Articles by Krebs, N. F Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Adams, C. L Articles by Krebs, N. F Agricola Articles by Adams, C. L Articles by Krebs, N. F

Zinc absorption from a low–phytic acid maize^1,2,3

¹ From the Section of Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver (CLA, MH, LS, JLW, and NFK), and the US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Small Grains Germplasm Research Unit, Aberdeen, ID (VR and JAD).

Background: Phytic acid reduction in cereal grains has been accomplished with plant genetic techniques. These low–phytic acid grains provide a strategy for improving the mineral (eg, zinc) status in populations that are dependent on grains, including maize (Zea mays L.), as major dietary staples.

Objective: The objective was to compare the fractional absorption of zinc from polenta prepared from maize low in phytic acid with that prepared from a wild-type isohybrid maize (control) after short-term consumption by adults whose habitual diet is low in phytic acid.

Design: Healthy adults served as their own control subjects in a crossover design. All meals on 1 d consisted of polenta prepared from a low–phytic acid maize homozygous for the recessive low phytic acid 1-1 (lpa1-1). On the preceding or following day, all meals consisted of polenta prepared from a sibling isohybrid homozygous wild-type maize with a "normal" phytic acid content. The low–phytic acid maize contained 60% less phytic acid than did the wild-type maize. All test meals were extrinsically labeled with zinc stable-isotope tracers. The fractional absorption of zinc was determined on the basis of fecal enrichment.

Results: The molar ratios of phytic acid to zinc in the polenta prepared from lpa1-1 maize and the wild-type maize were 17:1 and 36:1, respectively. The corresponding fractional absorptions of zinc were 0.30 ± 0.13 and 0.17 ± 0.11, respectively (P < 0.005).

Conclusion: Substitution of a low–phytic acid grain in a maize-based diet is associated with a substantial increase in zinc absorption.

Key Words: Plant breeding • maize • phytic acid • zinc • ratio of phytic acid to zinc • zinc absorption

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. R Hunt, J. M Beiseigel, and L. K Johnson Adaptation in human zinc absorption as influenced by dietary zinc and bioavailability Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2008; 87(5): 1336 - 1345. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. B. Linares, J. N. Broomhead, E. A. Guaiume, D. R. Ledoux, T. L. Veum, and V. Raboy Effects of Low Phytate Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) on Zinc Utilization in Young Broiler Chicks Poult. Sci., February 1, 2007; 86(2): 299 - 308. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. V. Miller, N. F. Krebs, and K. M. Hambidge A Mathematical Model of Zinc Absorption in Humans As a Function of Dietary Zinc and Phytate J. Nutr., January 1, 2007; 137(1): 135 - 141. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Mazariegos, K M. Hambidge, N. F Krebs, J. E Westcott, S. Lei, G. K Grunwald, R. Campos, B. Barahona, V. Raboy, and N. W Solomons Zinc absorption in Guatemalan schoolchildren fed normal or low-phytate maize Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2006; 83(1): 59 - 64. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K M. Hambidge, N. F Krebs, J. L Westcott, L. Sian, L. V Miller, K. L Peterson, and V. Raboy Absorption of calcium from tortilla meals prepared from low-phytate maize Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, July 1, 2005; 82(1): 84 - 87. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K M. Hambidge, J. W Huffer, V. Raboy, G. K Grunwald, J. L Westcott, L. Sian, L. V Miller, J. A Dorsch, and N. F Krebs Zinc absorption from low-phytate hybrids of maize and their wild-type isohybrids Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, June 1, 2004; 79(6): 1053 - 1059. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Egli, L. Davidsson, C. Zeder, T. Walczyk, and R. Hurrell Dephytinization of a Complementary Food Based on Wheat and Soy Increases Zinc, but Not Copper, Apparent Absorption in Adults J. Nutr., May 1, 2004; 134(5): 1077 - 1080. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]