Iron Bioavailability From Cubes

Inclusion criteria

• Age > 18 and < 40 years at screening;
• Body weight <65 kg;
• Apparently healthy: no medical conditions which might affect study measurements (judged by study physician);
• With low iron stores (serum ferritin <15µg/L);
• Reported intense sporting activities ≤10h/w;
• Reported alcohol consumption ≤14 units/w;
• Currently not smoking and being a non-smoker for at least six months and no reported use of any nicotine containing products in the six months preceding the study and during the study itself;
• Willing and able to participate in the study;
• Having given a written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Being an employee of Unilever or the Laboratory of Human Nutrition of the ETH Zürich;
• Blood donation or significant blood loss over the past 6 months;
• Reported use of any medically- or self-prescribed diet;
• Use of medication (except oral contraceptives)
• Use of vitamin or mineral supplements and unwillingness to discontinue their use two weeks prior the study and during the study;
• Smoking or consuming tobacco in any form, and/or was smoking or consuming tobacco in any form for 6 months preceding the study and/or will be smoking or consuming tobacco in any form, during the study;
• Is pregnant or will be planning pregnancy during the study period;
• Is lactating or has been lactating in the 6 weeks before pre-study investigation and/or during the study period;
• Known gastrointestinal or metabolic disorders;
• Moderate or severe anemia defined as Hb < 90 g/L.
• Participation in another clinical trial during the last 30 days prior to the beginning of the study.