Beneficial Effects of Demineralized Onion Fiber and Wheat Bran and Powdered Polystyrene Foam on Iron Bioavailability in Anemic Rats Fed Ferrous Sulfate

Abstract

We examined whether dietary addition (5%) of demineralized wheat bran (DWB), demineralized onion fiber (DOF) and powdered polystyrene foam (PSF) interferes with iron bioavailability by comparison of hemoglobin (Hb) regeneration rates in anemic rats which had been maintained on an iron-deficient diet for 3 weeks. Concurrent addition of DOF, DWB or PSF (90-fold degree of foaming) to a basal diet containing 20 ppm Fe (II) from ferrous sulfate significantly improved the regeneration rate of Hb, although these supplements had little or no effect on Hb regeneration when supplied together with Fe (III) from ferric sulfate. A balance study revealed that addition of DOF or PSF improved the apparent absorption of Fe (II) but not that of Fe (III).