Dietary Supplements and Food Fortification
Albion® Human Nutrition works with companies around the world on food fortification projects to target staple foods. While minerals often taste bad, have poor bioavailability and speed up rancidity of foods, Albion chelates have been extensively tested and shown to not affect oxidation and contribute minimal taste (excellent organoleptic properties). Clinical studies with Albion's flagship product, Ferrochel® (ferrous bisglycinate - iron amino acid chelate), have shown Ferrochel improves hemoglobin and ferritin indices at lower dosages than ferrous sulfate or ferrous ascorbate; lower dosages mean fewer side effects and no interactions with other nutrients. One such study at the Latin American Center for Nutrition and Metabolic Studies in Antigua, Guatemala, found infants with iron-deficiency anemia given Ferrochel had significant increases in both hemoglobin and plasma ferritin; researchers concluded it was the "iron of choice" for its high bioavailability and good regulation (Nutrition, 17, 5:381-4, 2001).
Remarkable Results. Fieldwork with Albion's chelated
mineral-fortified foods has shown remarkable results. Albion developed
technology to put iron, copper, and zinc into milk at a cost of
approximately 3/10 of a cent per liter. Field tests were conducted in
Brazil with anemic school children; children receiving a liter of
Ferrochel-fortified milk per day had normal hemoglobin levels within
seven months. The low dosage and exceptional results led the state of
Sao Paulo in Brazil to mandate milk fortification with Ferrochel.
Other fortification programs have included rice fortification in
China, bread and milk in Saudi Arabia, margarine in Latin America and
cookies in South Africa. Albion's programs target high carbohydrate,
staple foods. These are the major foods available to low-income
families, and it’s important that minerals used for fortification be
highly bioavailable.