The lack of effect of added dibasic calcium phosphate on the availability of zinc in infant cereals to the rat

Generally, calcium phosphate (dibasic) is added to infant cereals so that they contain approximately 1.0% calcium and 0.8% phosphorus. The effect of this on the bioavailability of endogenous zinc is not known. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of adding 0.50 and 1.0% calcium as CaHPO₄.2H₂O to three iron-fortified (0.30% iron added as electrolytic iron powder) cereals, viz. Rice, Mixed and Infantsoy. Each cereal was added to a low zinc basal diet to provide 4 mg zinc/kg. For 3 weeks male weanling rats were fed diets containing one of the cereals with and without added dibasic calcium phosphate. Body weight and food intake were recorded weekly. At the end of the feeding period the right femur was taken from each rat and analysed for zinc. The resslts did not show any consistent significant effect of the addition of dibasic calcium phosphate on the bioavailability of zinc as reflected by body weight gain or femur zinc.