This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Pérez-Conesa, D. Articles by Ros, G. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Effect of Probiotic, Prebiotic and Synbiotic Follow-up Infant Formulas on Iron Bioavailability in Rats

Nutrición y Bromatología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Campus Universitario de Espinardo, 30071 Murcia, Spain; dario{at}um.es

G. López

G. Ros

Nutrición y Bromatología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Campus Universitario de Espinardo, 30071 Murcia, Spain

The effect of functional ingredients-supplemented diets on iron bioavailability and the section of the large intestine involved with this effect was investigated in rats. The diets consisted of seven powder follow-up infant formulas containing probiotics (Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium longum), prebiotics (galactooligosaccharides (4'-GOS) at 1.2, 5 and 10%) or synbiotics (bifidobacteria and 4'-GOS at 1.2, 5 and 10%) that were administered to weanling rats over 30 days. Iron balancing (mineral apparent absorption and retention ratios) was carried out in three periods of 72h each. Results showed that the administration of any of the test diets increased the apparent iron absorption or retention in any of the periods, however only 10% prebiotic and synbiotic diets significantly (P<0.05) increased apparent iron absorption and retention during the three periods of mineral balancing when compared to the control group. A linear regression study demonstrated that the stimulation of iron absorption took place mainly in the colon portion of the gut, since the parameters iron absorption, crypt depth of proximal colon and pH colon content showed a multiple linear relationship (R²=0.56). We concluded that 10% prebiotic and synbiotic diets were the diets most prone to improving iron bioavailability in the colons of rats.

Key Words: infant formula • probiotics • prebiotics • synbiotics • iron bioavailability

Food Science and Technology International, Vol. 13, No. 1, 69-77 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1082013207075465


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?