RESUMO
Abstract Fortification of food constitutes an important strategy for the control of micronutrient deficiency and has advantages such as high population coverage and maintenance of eating habits. This study aimed to assess the impact of using fortified rice (Ultra Rice® - UR®) on the nutritional status of preschoolers. Ninety-nine children enrolled in two philanthropic preschools participated of the study. Children of one of the preschools were offered UR® mixed with polished rice, as part of school meals (test group) and the children of another preschool were offered pure polished rice (control group). Biochemical evaluations were performed before and after 4 months of intervention. Dietary assessment and sensory evaluation of UR® mixed with polished rice were performed during the study. The fortified rice improved the concentrations of zinc (p < 0.001), thiamine (p < 0.001), folic acid (p = 0.003), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (p < 0.001) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (p < 0.001). The fortified rice showed good acceptability among preschoolers. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of using rice fortified with iron, zinc, thiamine and folic acid on the nutritional status of children.
Resumo A fortificação de alimentos constitui importante estratégia para o controle da deficiência de micronutrientes e apresenta como vantagens a alta cobertura populacional e o fato de não alterar hábitos alimentares. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o impacto do uso de arroz fortificado (Ultra Rice® - UR®) sobre o estado nutricional de pré-escolares. Noventa e nove crianças matriculadas em duas creches filantrópicas participaram do estudo. Para crianças de uma creche foi oferecido UR® misturado com arroz polido, como parte das refeições escolares (grupo teste) e para as da outra foi oferecido somente arroz polido (grupo controle). Avaliações bioquímicas foram realizadas antes e após 4 meses de intervenção. Avaliações dietética e sensorial do UR® misturado com arroz polido foram realizadas durante o estudo. O arroz fortificado melhorou as concentrações de zinco (p < 0,001), tiamina (p < 0 ,001), ácido fólico (p = 0,003), hemoglobina corpuscular média (p < 0,001) e hemoglobina corpuscular média (p < 0,001). O arroz fortificado mostrou boa aceitação entre os pré-escolares. Este estudo demonstrou a eficácia do uso de arroz fortificado com ferro, zinco, tiamina e ácido fólico sobre o estado nutricional das crianças.
RESUMO
This study aimed to evaluate iron (Fe) bioavailability in Wistar rats fed with rice fortified with micronized ferric pyrophosphate (FP) by Ultra Rice® (UR) technology with or without addition of yacon flour as a source of 7.5% of fructooligosaccharides (FOS). Diets were supplied with 12 mg iron/kg from the following sources: ferrous sulfate (FS - control diet), fortified rice with micronized ferric pyrophosphate (Ultra Rice®) (UR diet), ferrous sulfate + yacon flour (FS + Y diet) or Ultra Rice® + yacon flour (UR + Y diet). Blood samples were collected at the end of depletion and repletion stages for determination of hemoglobin concentration and calculation of the relative biological value (RBV). Also, the content of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) (acetic, propionic and butyric acids) from animals stools and caecum weight were determined. The UR diet showed high iron bioavailability (RBV = 84.7%). However, the addition of yacon flour in the diet containing fortified rice (UR + Y diet) decreased RBV (63.1%) significantly below the other three groups (p<0.05). Groups that received yacon flour showed higher acetic acid values compared to those who did not. In conclusion, fortified UR® with micronized ferric pyrophosphate showed high iron bioavailability but the addition of yacon flour at 7.5% FOS reduced iron bioavailability despite increased caecum weight and SCFA concentration.
Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar la biodisponibilidad de hierro (Fe) en ratas Wistar alimentadas con arroz fortificado con pirofosfato férrico micronizado por medio de la tecnología Ultra Rice® (UR®), con o sin adición de harina de yacón. Las dietas contenían 12 mg de hierro/kg a partir de las siguientes fuentes: sulfato ferroso (SF - dieta de control), Ultra Rice® (dieta UR®), sulfato ferroso + harina de yacón (dieta SF + Y) o Ultra Rice® + harina de yacón (dieta UR® + Y). Al final del estudio, se recogieron muestras de sangre para la determinación de la concentración de hemoglobina y el cálculo del valor biológico relativo (RBV). También se determinó el contenido de ácidos grasos de cadena corta (AGCC) (ácidos acético, propiónico y butírico) en las heces de los animales. La dieta UR® mostró alta biodisponibilidad de hierro (RBV = 84,7%). Sin embargo, la adición de harina de yacón en la dieta que contenía arroz fortificado (dieta UR® + Y) disminuyó el RBV (63,1%) (p <0,05). Los grupos que recibieron harina de yacón mostraron los valores más altos de ácido acético en comparación con aquellos que no recibieron. En conclusión, el arroz fortificado con pirofosfato férrico micronizado por medio de la tecnología UR® mostró alta biodisponibilidad de hierro. La adición de harina de yacón, con el fin de proporcionar 7,5% de fructooligosacáridos (FOS) en la dieta, causó aumento del peso del ciego y de la concentración de AGCC, aunque disminuyó la biodisponibilidad de hierro.