Assessment of pearl millet vs rice based diets for bioavailability of four trace metals.

Cereals including millets are consumed in India as a staple with wide variety of pulses and vegetables in varying proportions. Trace mineral contents of pearl millet are two to ten times higher than that of rice. Comparative performance of pearl millet based (PM) diets as against rice based (RB) diets in terms of trace mineral bioavailability was studied, based on the prevailing dietary patterns in India. In vitro percent dialysability of zinc, iron, copper and manganese under simulated gastrointestinal conditions was considered as indicator of metal bioavailability. Dialysable zinc and iron were estimated using 65 Zn and 59 Fe as tracers, while dialysable copper and manganese were measured by Atomic absorption spectrophotometer for 20 food items and 15 RB and 17 PM diets prepared from these items. Results indicated that percent dialysability of zinc and copper was higher for RB diets than PM diets, while that of iron and manganese were comparable. Total dialysable iron, copper and manganese in PM diet was 2 to 4 times higher than RB diet.