Nutritional composition

Abstract

Use of a lentil product to increase the bioavailability of non-haem iron in a composition comprising one or more anti-nutritional factors.

1 . A method to increase the bioavailability of non-haem iron in a composition comprising one or more anti-nutritional factor, the method comprising adding a lentil product to the composition. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the lentil product is selected from the group consisting of a yellow lentil product, a red lentil product, and a combination of the foregoing. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the one or more anti-nutritional factor is phytic acid. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the composition comprising one or more anti-nutritional factor comprises wholegrain. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4  wherein the wholegrain is selected from the group consisting of whole grain maize, wheat, rice, oat, corn, barley, rye, semolina, and a combination of any of the foregoing. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the non-haem iron is selected from the group consisting of ferrous sulfate, ferrous bisglycinate, ferrous fumarate and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A composition comprising a lentil product, non-haem iron and wholegrain, wherein the composition is an infant cereal or a nutritional composition for use in a complementary feeding period. 
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 7  wherein the lentil product is selected from the group consisting of a yellow lentil product, a red lentil product, and a combination of the foregoing. 
     
     
         9 . The composition according to  claim 7 , wherein said composition comprises 5 to 70% of the lentil product. 
     
     
         10 . The composition according to  claim 7  wherein said composition comprises 5 to 30% of the wholegrain. 
     
     
         11 . The composition according to  claim 7  wherein said composition comprises 5 to 30% of the wholegrain, at least 1.6 mg/100 kcal of the non-haem iron, and 5 to 20% of the lentil product. 
     
     
         12 . The composition according to  claim 7  wherein the wholegrain is selected from the group consisting of wholegrain maize, wheat, rice, oat, corn, barley, rye, semolina and a combination of any of the foregoing. 
     
     
         13 . A method for treatment or prevention of sub-optimal iron levels in an infant or child, the method comprising administering an effective amount of a composition comprising a lentil product, non-haem iron and wholegrain to the infant or child. 
     
     
         14 . A method to maintain or optimize the iron status of an infant or child, the method comprising administering an effective amount of a composition comprising a lentil product, non-haem iron and wholegrain to the infant or child. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled)