Effect of phytase supplementation on zinc, iron and calcium status in rats fed with diet containing Iranian high phytate bread [Sangak]

Restricted mineral bioavailability of minerals in Iranian breads due to high levels of phytic acid has been reported for more than 50 years. Bread intakes still provide over one-third of the food energy through out the country. Hence improving bread mineral bioavailability can play an important role in decreasing the prevalence of many mineral deficiencies. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of phytase supplementation on blood, liver and bone zinc, blood and liver iron and femur bone calcium in growing Wistar male rats, fed a diet containing high phytate Iranian bread [Sangak]. Thirty weaning Wistar rats were assigned to the phytase [Aspergillus niger] or the control group for 6 weeks. The diet was designed based on Iranian food patterns and 34.2% of energy was supplied from Sangak bread with high amount of phytic acid. Feed intakes, weight gain, liver and femur bone weight did not differ between the groups. Blood zinc was higher in the phytase group [p=0.03], indicating the positive effect of phytase supplementation on blood zinc levels, independent of the growth process. Other variables did not show any differences between groups. We conclude that the addition of high phytate Iranian bread phytase to the diet can improve blood zinc status in growing rats

Comparison of micronutrient intake in multiple sclerosis patients in Tehran with the recommended doses

Multiple Sclerosis [MS] is the most prevalent autoimmune disease of the nervous system in young adults. There are currently more than 30000 cases in Iran and the number is increasing everyday.The objective of this study was to measure the amount of vitamin and mineral intake in MS patients and to compare it with reference values. We randomly selected 108 relapsing-remitting MS patients from the Iranian MS society in Tehran in 2005. Two questionnaires- covering personal information and medical data- were filled for each patient. Food intake was assessed by three 24-hour recalls and a quantitative food frequency questionnaire for the year preceding the study. The food intake recorded on the original questionnaire was changed to values in grams using [Manual for Household Measures] and then converted to corresponding amounts of nutrient ingredients by the [Nutritionist 3] program. Data analysis was performed by the SPSS software package. We calculated means and standard deviations for intake levels and applied t tests to compare the results with reference values. Women with MS took excessive amounts of vitamin A and vitamin C, while their daily intake of folate, vitamin E, vitamin D, magnesium, iron, zinc, iodine and calcium was below reference values. Male patients had higher-than-recommended intake of vitamin A, phosphorous, manganese and iron. Their ingestion of folate, Vitamin D and E, magnesium, zinc, calcium and selenium was shown to be below the recommended amount. In view of these results, higher intake of vitamin D and calcium is recommended. Women should be encouraged to take more iron and folate as many symptoms of anemia mimics MS symptoms. Considering the well-known role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of MS, men should be urged to increase their ingestion of antioxidant-rich foods. It appears that nutritional assessment, dietary counseling and education are necessary for Iranian MS patients