Table 5.
Interventions using dietary ascorbic acid to improve to improve iron status in young women [20].
| Author, Country | Participants, Duration of Intervention | Dietary Intervention | Serum Ferritin (µg/L) Baseline/End |
Hemoglobin (g/L) Baseline/End |
Final Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beck et al. [103] New Zealand |
69 females, 18–44 y, SF ≤ 25 µg/L, Hb ≥ 115 g/L 16-week RCT |
Intervention—normal diet and iron-fortified breakfast cereal (16 mg iron as ferrous sulphate), milk, 2 gold kiwifruit (164 mg Aa) Intervention-normal diet and iron-fortified breakfast cereal (16 mg iron as ferrous sulphate), milk, 1 banana (0 mg Aa) |
17.0/25.0 (p < 0.001) 16.5/17.5 (NS) |
126.0/130.0 (p = 0.005) 125.0/126.0 (p = 0.30) |
Significant increase in SF and decrease in sTfR in kiwifruit but not banana group, change between groups significant Significant increase in Hb in kiwifruit but not banana group, no significant change between groups |
| Garcia-Casal et al. [104] Mexico |
36 females, 28 y (mean), SF < 12 µg/L 8-mth RPC |
Intervention—normal diet and limeade (25 mg Aa) at 2 meals, 6 days/week Placebo—normal diet and limeade (no Aa) at 2 meals, 6 days/week |
6.4/9.0 (NS) 6.2/8.7 (NS) |
137.0/140.0 (NS) 139.0/137.0 (NS) |
No significant differences between groups in SF, Hb, sTfR, sTfR:SF ratio |
| Kandiah [102] USA |
14 females, 20–25 y, vegetarian, 1/3 had SF < 12 µg/L 30-d random cross-over |
Intervention—normal diet and 57.7 g tofu & 83.3 mL (101 mg Aa) orange juice 3x/day with meals Placebo—normal diet and 57.7 g tofu 3x/day with meals |
n/a n/a |
8.1 & 6.4 a −5.5 and −6.5 a |
No significant difference in SF between groups Hb increased significantly with orange juice compared with no orange juice |
Table adapted from “Iron and Health” Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition [20]; a: Change in Hb concentrations during first and second experimental period. Abbreviations: Aa—Ascorbic acid; Hb—Hemoglobin; n/a—not available; NS—non significant; RCT—Randomized controlled trial; RPC—Randomized placebo controlled; SF—Serum ferritin; sTfR—Soluble transferrin receptor.