Title: Women with low iron stores absorb iron from soybeans.

POPLINE Document Number: 299515

Author(s):

Murray-Kolb LE
Welch R
Theil EC
Beard JL

Source citation:

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2003 Jan;77(1):180-184.

Abstract:

Worldwide, 30% of the population, a greater proportion of whom are women and children, is iron deficient. Soybeans are a major source of nonheme iron in many human diets, but information on iron bioavailability is still conflicting. Because much of soybean iron is in ferritin [distinct from the poorly bioavailable iron in cereals resulting from interactions between calcium, Fe(III), phytate, and proteins in the meal], soybeans provide a target for manipulating seed iron composition to achieve increased iron bioavailability. The aim was to reevaluate soybean iron bioavailability. Eighteen women, most with marginal iron deficiency, consumed meals with intrinsically labeled (55/Fe) soybeans (hydroponically grown and nonnodulating) as soup (n = 11) or muffins (n = 7) and a reference dose of 59/Fe as ferrous sulfate in ascorbate solution. The radioactivity in red cells was measured 14 and 28 d later. The mean 55/Fe absorption from either soup or muffins was 27% and that from the reference dose was 61%. 55/Fe was distributed approximately equally between protein (49.3 ± 3.0%) and phytate, a contrast with nodulating soybeans likely caused by a high phosphate content in the growth medium. There was an expected inverse correlation (r = -0.793, P < 0.001) between red cell radioactivity and serum ferritin concentration. These results show that soybeans appear to be a good source of nutritional iron in marginally iron-deficient individuals. More study is needed on the effect of plant nodulation on the form of soybean iron, aimed at enhancing bioavailability to combat iron deficiency in at-risk populations. (author's)

Keywords:

United States
Research Report
Women
Iron
Deficiency Diseases
Administration and Dosage
Food and Beverage
Diet
Gastrointestinal Effects
Metabolic Effects
North America
Americas
Developed Countries
Demographic Factors
Population
Metals
Vitamins and Minerals
Physiology
Biology
Nutrition Disorders
Diseases
Drugs
Treatment
Medical Procedures
Medicine
Health Services
Delivery of Health Care
Health
Nutrition