| Three commercial infant cereals (rice, oatmeal, and mixed grain) were analyzed for phytate, iron, and zinc. Phytic acid was determined colorimetrically. Iron and zinc were analyzed using the AOAC atomic absorption spectrophotometeric method. The molar ratios of phytate: iron, phytate: zinc and iron: zinc in the samples were calculated and compared to the molar ratio values in the literature to evaluate the availability of iron and zinc in these products.; Phytic acid concentrations were 2.31 and 1.41 mg/g in the mixed grain, and rice cereals, respectively, and it was undetectable in the oatmeal cereal. The molar ratios of phytate: iron were 0.89 and 0.49 and the values for phytate: zinc were 3.18 and 1.75 in the mixed grain, and rice cereals, respectively. The molar ratios of iron: zinc were 3.55, 3.21, and 3.58 for the mixed grain, oatmeal, and rice cereals, respectively. Based on these values iron availability is not influenced by phytic acid and zinc levels in these products. In addition, zinc availability is not impaired by phytic acid level in any of the products; however, the iron levels might affect zinc availability in all the samples. |
