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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Bioavailability of zinc from infant foods byin vitro methods (solubility, dialyzability and uptake and transport by Caco-2 cells)

subject

description

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioavailability of zinc from infant foods (adapted, follow-up and toddler milk-based formulas and fruit juices containing milk and cereals, FMC) using solubility, dialyzability and a model combining simulated gastrointestinal digestion and zinc uptake and transport by Caco-2 cells. The greater solubility of zinc from infant formulas compared with fruit juices (FMC) could be due to the greater casein phosphopeptide content resulting from casein hydrolysis. The highest zinc dialysis percentage corresponded to FMC, which on the other hand had the lowest zinc contents of the analyzed samples. The presence of organic acids in samples of this kind favors the formation of soluble low molecular weight complexes with zinc, thereby increasing the solubility of the latter. Bifidobacterium addition exerted no effect upon zinc bioavailability. Transport and uptake efficiency in Caco-2 cells were significantly greater for toddler formulas, which presented the highest casein contents. The greater efficiency in zinc transport and uptake from the powdered toddler formula compared with the liquid formulation could be explained by the effect of Maillard reaction products. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry