IRON BIOAVAILABILITY FROM DIETS CONSUMED BY DIFFERENT SOCIOECONOMIC STRATA OF THE VENEZUELAN POPULATION

The iron bioavailability from three typical diets consumed by socioeco nomic stratum IV (SES IV-working class) of the Venezuelan population w as determined by the extrinsic label method. Although the iron content of the SES IV diets was about the same (250 mu mol/d) as that of uppe r (SES I-III) and lower (SES V) socioeconomic strata diets, iron-reple te subjects absorbed 43 and 61% more iron from the SES I-III diets tha n from the SES IV and V diets, respectively, and absorption from the m ain meal of the SES I-III diets was 100% greater. However, iron defici ent subjects absorbed about the same amount of iron (45 mu mol/d) from the SES IV diets as from the SES I-III diets. The SES I-III diets con tained more iron absorption enhancers (ascorbic acid and meat protein) and less of the inhibitor phytate, than the SES IV and V diets. Iron absorption from the meals of four diets consumed at different times du ring the day was also measured. There was no significant difference in the percentage iron absorption from the same meals eaten in the morni ng after an overnight fast, and when eaten at the customary time of da y.