001). ITF supplementation led to an increased caecum (wall and contents) weight and decreased the caecal pH values, whereas these effects were more pronounced in YF-fed rats (P < 0.001; Table 3). The total caecal pool of SCFA was significantly increased after ITF consumption (despite the lack of significant effects on total SCFA

concentration), and the YF group showed higher values than did the RAF-fed group (P < 0.001). Moreover, the butyrate concentrations were increased only when YF was the ITF source (P < 0.001; Table 3). As PI3K targets expected, the FP group presented a lower apparent Fe absorption when compared to the FS group, assessed in the last 5 days of the repletion period (days 10–14; P < 0.001). However, ITF consumption did not significantly affect the apparent Fe absorption. The liver Fe concentrations were lower in FP than FS rats, whereas YF consumption recovered to levels comparable to those seen in the FS group. Moreover, RAF consumption resulted in increased hepatic Fe levels compared to the levels in the FP group, although the values remained lower than those of the FS group (P < 0.001; Fig. 2). Several factors in the diet can influence the mineral bioavailability, the magnitude of which depends on inhibitors and promoters in a meal, and hence on the food matrix (Gibson, 2007). Over the past years, the positive effects of ITF on macromineral (Ca, Mg) absorption

and bioavailability have been frequently observed in animal (rats, pigs) (Lobo et al., 2007 and Scholz-Ahrens and Schrezenmeir, 2007) and human studies (Van Der Heuvel, Muys, Van Dokkum, & Schaafsma, 1999). However, data concerning Fasudil cell line their effects on micromineral bioavailability are relatively scarce and so far have presented contradictory results (Scholz-Ahrens & Schrezenmeir, 2007). In particular, although there is some evidence that Fe bioavailability is positively affected (Tako et al., 2008; Yasuda, Roneker, Miller, Welch, & Lei, 2006), to our knowledge, there

are no studies using a non-purified source of ITF on Fe bioavailability in a rat model. In the present study, our results showed that the consumption of diets supplemented STK38 with YF (7.5% ITF) improved the bioavailability of Fe from FP (around 30–50% the bioavailability of Fe from FS; Hurrel, 2002), as evaluated by Hb repletion assay in anaemic rats. Moreover, such effects were more pronounced than those observed after dietary supplementation with 7.5% ITF from RAF, a purified source of ITF from chicory roots. The consumption of ITF led to a higher HRE compared to values observed in the FP group, and this effect was similar to that observed in FS group. Moreover, the RBV of FP in ITF-fed animals was equivalent to that of FS group (considered the reference in Fe bioavailability studies; Hurrel, 2002, Mahoney et al., 1974 and Poltronieri et al., 2000), and this effect was even more significant in the YF group on day 7 of the repletion period.