BIOAVAJLABILtTY OF IRON IN CON ENTRATED SUGAR CANE JUICE PRODUCED IN EGYPt

The presenl work was carried out to evaluate the bioavailability of iron
.,resenl in concentrated sugar cane juice (CSCJ) produced In Egypt.
.t... number of 70 samples 01 CSCJ werlJ analyzed for iron by using atomic
absorption name photometer.
Weanling male albino rats were used to determine Ihe availability of iron in
CSCJ compared with ammonium ferric citrate (AFC) Amount of iron from different
sources were offered to cover the requirements. Improvement in Hb concentration
was 1.96 % with (AFC) alone. The apparent dige'tibiJity or iron was 77.86 % for the
above mentioned treatment.
Feeding rats on diets where the main source 01 iron was CSCJ gave
negalive Hb and negalive apparent digestibifities results. The study indicated thai iron
In CSCJ i3 not only unavailable but it is suggested thCilI Iactors present in CSCJ
nincer Ihe use of available iron from other sources which are well known to have
high Iron availability.