TABLE 2.
Description of the main methodological characteristics of publications assessing the effect on micronutrient absorption of adding ASFs to a plant-based meal1
| Methodological characteristics | Intervention details | Studies, n (% of total of 77) |
|---|---|---|
| Number of micronutrients tested | One micronutrient | 71 (92) |
| Two or more micronutrients | 6 (8) | |
| Micronutrients assessed | Iron | 60 (78) |
| Human | 42 (55) | |
| Animal | 17 (22) | |
| Both | 1 (1) | |
| Zinc | 18 (23) | |
| Human | 11 (14) | |
| Animal | 7 (9) | |
| Calcium | 6 (8) | |
| Human | 3 (4) | |
| Animal | 3 (4) | |
| Phosphorus | 3 (4) | |
| Human | 1 (1) | |
| Animal | 2 (3) | |
| Magnesium | 3 (4) | |
| Human | 1 (1) | |
| Animal | 2 (3) | |
| Manganese | 1 (1) | |
| Human | ||
| Assessment methodology | Extrinsic labeling with radioisotopes | 40 (53) |
| Extrinsic labeling with stable isotopes | 9 (12) | |
| Apparent absorption | 8 (10) | |
| Intrinsic labeling with radioisotopes | 6 (8) | |
| HRE (iron only) | 5 (6) | |
| RBV | 3 (4) | |
| Intrinsic and extrinsic labeling with radioisotopes | 2 (3) | |
| Gastric intubation of FeSO4 | 2 (3) | |
| Atomic absorption spectrometry | 2 (3) | |
| ASF content of meal | One source of ASF | 41 (53) |
| Two or more sources of ASF | 36 (47) | |
| Type of ASF in meal | Red meat | 51 (66) |
| Dairy products and eggs | 31 (41) | |
| Fish and seafood | 28 (37) | |
| ASF fractions | 19 (25) | |
| Poultry | 17 (23) | |
| Unspecified meat | 5 (7) |
1
ASF, animal-source food; HRE, hemoglobin regeneration efficiency; RBV, relative biological value.