ニュートリションデリバリーシステム ―食品への鉄強化の新しい概念―

抄録

We have developed “Nutrition Delivery System (NDS)” using emulsion technology to deliver minerals, vitamins and other nutrients in a certain place under a certain condition. Using NDS, it has become possible to fortify foods with nutrients having merits of stability, taste, safety and bioavailability.

For example, many iron sources that exhibit the best bioavailability adversely affect food quality by accelerating lipid oxidation or by producing an unfavorable color or flavor. Compatible and nonreactive iron compounds are needed for fortification of foods because it has less of an “iron taste” compared to soluble iron. However, due to its insolubility precipitation of the iron prevents fortification in large amounts.

We prepared a superdispersed Fe (SDFe:SunActive Fe™) ferric pyrophosphate, which disperses insoluble iron in liquid formulations and produces no precipitation. SDFe masks disagreeable flavor of iron without affecting the flavor of the final product.

SDFe is stable under the condition of heating and high salt concentration. The particle size of SDFe measured was found to show a sharp distribution size (average 0.5 μm), which is several folds smaller than ferric pyrophosphate.

SD male rats were orally administrated with various iron sources at 2 mg/kg as iron per body weight. Total amount of the concentration of the serum iron after 8 -12 h was 909 μg/dI in the control (water) group, 1573 μg/dl in ferric pyrophosphate group, 2001 μg/dl in ferrous sulfate group, 2108 μg/dl in sodium ferrous citrate group, 2294 μg/dl in heme iron group and 2839 μg/dl in SDFe group. Hemoglobin Regeneration Efficiency and Relative Biological Values were the highest with diets containing SDFe as compared to other iron sources. SDFe did not show any toxic effect on the gastrointestinal system as compared to other iron sources.

Many iron fortified products like milk, yogurt, and beverages including sports drinks have been launched in Japanese market and abroad. Similar formulations have been prepared of calcium and magnesium salts, vitamins and polyunsaturated fatty acids.