Fortifying complementary foods with NaFeEDTA – considerations for developing countries
2011
As a highly bioavailable iron compound, sodium iron (iii) ethylenediaminetetraacetate (NaFeEDTA) has been recommended as a
food additivefor
fortification. The amount of a
food additivethat can be ingested daily over a lifetime without appreciable health risk is termed the
acceptable daily intake(ADI). The ADI for NaFeEDTA is based on body weight. For complementary foods and food supplements for infants and young children in low-income countries, where prevalence of
underweightis high yet nutrient needs are also high, it is not clear which doses might be appropriate. The objective is to calculate the dosage of NaFeEDTA for fortifying complementary foods assuming different population prevalences of
underweight. Mathematical models were used to simulate the dosage of NaFeEDTA for 6- to 8-month-old infants under different prevalences of
underweightranging from 5% to 40%. In order to keep NaFeEDTA intake below the ADI for ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) recommended by the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Committee on
Food Additivesfor 95% of 6- to 8-month-old infants, the daily iron dose from NaFeEDTA in fortified complementary foods should be set between 2.2 mg and 1.8 mg in countries with a prevalence of
underweightamong 6- to 8-month-old infants between 5% and 40%, respectively. If 2 mg of iron is given to all 6- to 8-month-old infants, the percentage exceeding the ADI for EDTA would be <10% for populations with <30% of children who are
underweight, which is the case for many countries. In conclusion, 2 mg of iron from NaFeEDTA could be used for fortifying one daily serving of complementary food to ensure EDTA levels are below the ADI for infants 6–8 months of age. An additional source of iron (such as ferrous sulfate) should be included to increase the iron dose to desired
fortificationlevels.
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