In this study, fortified and unfortified grain amaranth seed flour die
ts and a FeSO4-fortified casein diet (used as a control) were evaluate
d for their iron (Fe) bioavailability. NaFeEDTA, ferrous fumarate, and
FeSO4-fortified grain amaranth were fed to growing Sprague-Dawley wea
ning male rats. Iron intake, hemoglobin iron (HbFe) gain, Fe availabil
ity, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), serum iron, non-haem liver ir
on and red bloodcell volume (RBV) were determined, and the values were
compared with those of the FeSO4-fortified casein diet control. Ferro
us fumarate fortified diets gave consistently high values for all thes
e parameters, compared with consistently low values for the amaranth d
iet without iron fortification. Relative biological values (RBVs) were
0.40, 1.55, 1.75, 1.67 and 1.00 for animals fed on an unfortified ama
ranth diet, and diets fortified with NaFeEDTA. ferrous fumarate, FeSO4
and casein fortified with FeSO4, respectively. Using FeSO4-fortified
casein as control, ferrous fumarate gave a superior RBVs (1.75 vs. 1.0
0). The RBVs. of the unfortified cereal diets were 40% that of the con
trol, perhaps suggesting low iron absorption from the amaranth cereal.
Based on the results of this study, amaranth cereal can be considered
an ideal food vehicle for iron fortification. The iron fortification
of choice is ferrous fumarate.