ABSORPTION OF MONOFERRIC PHYTATE BY DOGS

Recent studies have shown that the iron in wheat is predominantly in the form of monoferric phytate (MFP). Unlike phytate complexed with two or more iron atoms, MFP is soluble at pH 7.0 and above and may therefore be a relatively available form of dietary iron. To examine this point, we tested iron absorption in adult dogs using a double radioisotope method and total body counting. When given without food, MFP was about one-half as available as ferrous sulphate at an iron-equivalent dose of 1.5 mg and only about one-seventh as available at a dose of 15 mg iron. When administered with food MFP underwent complete isotopic exchange with the nonheme pool of dietary iron. When added to meals of either high or low iron availability in amounts that might be used for iron fortification, the absorption was the same for MFP iron as for the major pool of dietary inorganic iron.