IN HAITIAN WOMEN AND CHILDREN, IRON ABSORPTION FROM WHEAT FLOUR FORTIFIED WITH NAFEEDTA IS HIGHER THAN FROM FLOUR FORTIFIED WITH FERROUS FUMARATE AND IS NOT AFFECTED BY H. PYLORI INFECTION

Background and objectives: The prevalence of iron deficiency in Haiti is high and a program of iron fortification of wheat flour has been proposed; however, there are no data on iron bioavailability from iron fortificants in Haitian women or children, two key target groups. We aimed to investigate the bioavailability of ferrous fumarate (FeFum), NaFeEDTA and their combination from fortified wheat flour. Methods: We recruited 22 healthy mother-child pairs in Port au Prince, Haiti for an iron absorption study. We administered stable iron isotopes as FeFum or NaFeEDTA in low-extraction wheat flour bread rolls consumed by all participants in a randomized, cross-over fashion. In a final meal, consumed only by the women, FeFum+NaFeEDTA was administered. The amount of iron used in the test meal was chosen to simulate the fortification level currently discussed by the Haitian government. We measured iron absorption by using erythrocyte incorporation of stable isotopes 14 days after consumption of each meal, and determined iron status, inflammatory markers and H. pylori infection. Results: Iron absorption (geo mean (95% CI) was 9.24 (6.35,13.44) and 9.26 (7.00,12.31) from FeFum and 13.06 (9.23,19.10) and 12.99 (9.18,18.39) from NaFeEDTA in mothers and children, respectively (p