Investigation of the bioavailability of zinc and calcium from some tropical tubers.

摘要

The zinc, calcium and phytate contents of varieties of tubers commonly consumed in Nigeria were analysed and the corresponding phytate:Zn, Ca:phytate and [Ca][phytate]/[Zn] molar ratios were calculated to predict the bioavailability of Zn and Ca from these foods. Tubers used for analysis included Dioscorea alata (water yam), D. rotundata (white yam), D. cayenensis (yellow yam), Colocasia sp. (white and red cocoyam), Ipomoea batatas (white and red potato) and Manihot esculenta (cassava).