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Nutrition and Disease

Meals and Dephytinization Affect Calcium and Zinc Absorption in Nigerian Children with Rickets^1,2

³ Department of Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55903; ⁴ USDA/Agricultural Research Service Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030; ⁵ Department of Paediatrics, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria 930001; ⁶ Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853; and ⁷ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria 930001

Nutritional rickets resulting from calcium insufficiency is common in Nigeria and high dietary phytate is thought to inhibit calcium and zinc absorption. We compared the effects of a high-phytate meal and enzymatic dephytinization on calcium and zinc absorption in Nigerian children with and without rickets. Nineteen children with rickets and 15 age-matched control children, aged 2–10 y, were given calcium (600 mg/d) and ergocalciferol (1250 µg/wk). After 6 wk, calcium and zinc absorption were measured in both groups with and without maize porridge using stable isotopes. One week later, absorption measurements were repeated to assess the effects of enzymatic dephytinization and fermentation of the maize porridge. The phytate concentration of maize porridge (3.87 ± 0.38 g/kg wet weight) was reduced by enzymatic dephytinization (2.83 ± 0.41 g/kg; P < 0.001) but not by fermentation (3.35 ± 0.27 g/kg; P = 0.08). Calcium and zinc absorption were unaffected by the presence of rickets or by fermentation of maize porridge. Calcium absorption was greater with a meal (61.3 ± 25.1%) than without (27.8 ± 14.6%; P < 0.001). Zinc absorption was lower with a meal (16.2 ± 8.0%) than without (63.4 ± 23.9%; P < 0.001). Enzymatic dephytinization increased relative zinc absorption from a meal by 101 ± 81% (P < 0.001) but did not affect calcium absorption. Rickets was not associated with impaired calcium or zinc absorption. Calcium absorption was enhanced by maize porridge, but zinc absorption was reduced. Enzymatic dephytinization increased zinc absorption. Multiple strategies may be required to optimize calcium and zinc absorption in deficient populations.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: thacher.thomas{at}mayo.edu.

Manuscript received 20 October 2008. Initial review completed 29 November 2008. Revision accepted 5 February 2009.

Published online 25 March 2009.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. D. Thacher, M. O. Obadofin, K. O. O'Brien, and S. A. Abrams The Effect of Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3 on Intestinal Calcium Absorption in Nigerian Children with Rickets J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2009; 94(9): 3314 - 3321. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]