Bioavailability of iron bis-glycinate chelate in water

iron amino acid chelate is being increasingly considered in programs for iron fortification of foods. the bioavailability of iron bis-glycinate chelate given in water was studied using a double-isotopic method in a group of 14 women. iron absorption from aqueous solutions of 15 mg/l of elemental iron as either iron bis-glycine chelate or ferrous ascorbate was not significantly different (34.6% and 29.9% respectively). standardized iron absorption of the iron bis-glycinate was 46.3% (standardized to 40% absorption of the reference dose). there was a significant correlations between (in) iron absorption of iron bis- glycinate chelate with (in) serum ferritin (r= -0.60, p <0.03) and with (in) iron absorption from ferrous ascorbate (r= 0.71, p<0.006), suggesting that iron bis-glycinate chelate absorption is indeed regulated by the iron stores of the body.