Denova-Gutiérrez Edgar, García-Guerra Armando, Flores-Aldana Mario, Rodríguez-Ramírez Sonia, Hotz Christine
Center for Medical Sciences Research, Toluca, Mexico State, Mexico.
Food Nutr Bull. 2008 Sep;29(3):203-12. doi: 10.1177/156482650802900306.
Biofortification is an agricultural process that attempts to increase the iron and zinc content of staple food crops. Improving the absorption of zinc and iron could contribute to reducing the high rates of deficiency of these micronutrients in developing-country settings.
To simulate the effects of biofortification of staple food crops (maize, wheat, rice, and beans) on the absorption of zinc and iron among women and children in Mexico.
We analyzed dietary data from the 1999 Mexican National Nutrition Survey. On the basis of the intake of the four staple food crops and the increase in zinc and iron content that could be achieved by conventional breeding in the short term, the prevalence of inadequacy in the amounts of absorbed zinc and iron was determined. The mean increase in the amounts of absorbed zinc and iron was compared according to rural and urban residence and according to region of the country.
In rural areas, simulated biofortification of maize resulted in a reduction in the prevalence of absorption of inadequate amounts of zinc of 47% in children and 56% in women but had no effect on the prevalence of absorption of inadequate amounts of iron. The increase in zinc absorption was greater in rural populations and in the Central and Southern regions (p < .05).
Biofortification of maize could significantly improve zinc absorption among children and women in Mexico living in areas most vulnerable to zinc deficiency. Studies of the biological impact of biofortified maize on zinc status are warranted.
生物强化是一种农业过程，旨在提高主食作物的铁和锌含量。改善锌和铁的吸收有助于降低发展中国家环境中这些微量营养素的高缺乏率。
模拟主食作物（玉米、小麦、大米和豆类）生物强化对墨西哥妇女和儿童锌和铁吸收的影响。
我们分析了1999年墨西哥全国营养调查的饮食数据。根据四种主食作物的摄入量以及通过常规育种短期内可实现的锌和铁含量增加，确定吸收的锌和铁量不足的患病率。根据农村和城市居住情况以及国家地区比较吸收的锌和铁量的平均增加情况。
在农村地区，模拟的玉米生物强化使儿童锌吸收不足患病率降低了47%，妇女降低了56%，但对铁吸收不足患病率没有影响。农村人口以及中部和南部地区的锌吸收增加幅度更大（p < .05）。
玉米生物强化可显著改善墨西哥生活在最易缺锌地区的儿童和妇女的锌吸收。有必要对生物强化玉米对锌状况的生物学影响进行研究。
