⁵⁹Fe Is Retained from an Elemental ⁵⁹Fe Powder Supplement without Effects on ⁶⁵Zinc, ⁴⁷Calcium and ⁶⁷Copper in Young Pigs

Manuscript received 4 February 1998. Initial reviews completed 20 March 1998. Revision accepted 5 October 1998.

Kurt R. Zinn, Tandra R. Chaudhuri, James M. Mountz, Gerrit J. van den Berg, Dennis T. Gordon^**, and Gary L. Johanning^*

Department of Radiology and ^* Department of Nutrition Science, University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center, Birmingham, AL 35294;  Department of Radiochemistry, Interfaculty Reactor Institute, Delft University of Technology, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlands; and ^** Department of Cereal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105-5728

In vivo counting with the use of a germanium detector evaluated the retention of an elemental ⁵⁹Fe powder supplement while measuring potential interactions with zinc, calcium and copper. Effects of dietary iron and zinc on in vivo retentions of ⁵⁹Fe, ⁶⁵Zn, ⁶⁷Cu and ⁴⁷Ca were studied in young pigs. In Experiment 1, 4-d-old piglets fed a cereal-based diet were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups (2 × 2 factorial arrangement, n = 5 per group). Variables were dietary iron source (either elemental iron or FeSO₄, each at 100 mg iron/kg diet) and the dosage form of radioactive iron (either elemental ⁵⁹Fe powder or ⁵⁹FeSO₄). Experiment 2 (2 × 3 factorial arrangement) was performed using two levels of iron (100 and 200 mg/kg, as elemental iron) and three levels of zinc (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg). Piglets were also dosed with ⁴⁷Ca, ⁶⁵Zn and ⁶⁷Cu; all radioisotopes were measured for 8 d. Apparent absorption of elemental ⁵⁹Fe powder was 13 ± 1%, whereas ⁵⁹Fe sulfate was significantly (P < 0.05) higher at 26 ± 1%. The FeSO₄ diet decreased ⁶⁵Zn retention in Experiment 1, in contrast to the elemental iron diet, which did not have this effect in either experiment. Apparent ⁶⁵Zn absorption averaged 44 ± 2, 35 ± 1 and 27 ± 2% for the three levels of zinc (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg), respectively. Retention of ⁴⁷Ca was not affected by dietary iron or zinc; retention of ⁶⁷Cu was not affected by dietary iron. The data demonstrate good bioavailability of elemental iron without effects on zinc, copper and calcium.

The Journal of Nutrition Vol. 129 No. 1 January 1999, pp. 181-187
Copyright ©1999 by the American Society for Nutritional Sciences

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