Effect of Red Meat Intake on Occurrence of Serum Non-transferrin Bound Iron (NTBI)

During Visit 1, blood samples will be collected to assess iron status. During Visit 2, after an overnight fast, participant will be given a standardized meal (rice and potatoes) with a portion of cooked beef (200 g). Blood samples will be collected right before and 2 hour after the meal for NTBI analysis.

NTBI concentration before and after meal consumption will be compared.

• Beef (Other): 200 g beef topside which is fully cooked will be provided to participant after overnight fast. The intervention is one time only.

Primary outcomes

• Occurrence of serum non-transferrin bound iron (NTBI) after consumption of red meat [2 hour post meal administration]: Blood samples collected 2 h after consumption of red meat will be analyzed for non-transferrin bound iron (NTBI) concentration

Sex: Male, ages: 21 Years to 45 Years, accepts healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

* Apparently healthy male volunteers (21 - 45 years old)
* C-reactive protein (CRP) < 5 mg/L

Exclusion Criteria:

* Blood donation or significant blood loss (e.g. surgery) within the past 4 months
* Regular intake of iron and other nutrient supplements within the past 4 months
* Regular intake of medication except oral contraceptives
* Acute or recent inflammatory or infectious symptoms
* Chronic gastrointestinal disorders or metabolic diseases
* Smoking
* Coeliac disease or gluten-related disorders
* Iron deficiency anemia (Hb < 14 g/dL for males) with serum ferritin concentration < 30 ng/mL)
* Non-iron deficiency anemia (serum ferritin concentration within normal range (30 - 300 ng/mL for males) but low hemoglobin (< 14 g/dL for males)
* Iron overload conditions (serum ferritin concentration > 300 ng/mL for males)
* Known hereditary disorders of iron metabolism

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• Monsen ER, Hallberg L, Layrisse M, Hegsted DM, Cook JD, Mertz W, Finch CA. Estimation of available dietary iron. Am J Clin Nutr. 1978 Jan;31(1):134-41. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/31.1.134. PMID 619599
• Papanikolaou G, Pantopoulos K. Iron metabolism and toxicity. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2005 Jan 15;202(2):199-211. doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2004.06.021. PMID 15629195
• Hutchinson C, Al-Ashgar W, Liu DY, Hider RC, Powell JJ, Geissler CA. Oral ferrous sulphate leads to a marked increase in pro-oxidant nontransferrin-bound iron. Eur J Clin Invest. 2004 Nov;34(11):782-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2362.2004.01416.x. No abstract available. PMID 15530152
• Schumann K, Kroll S, Romero-Abal ME, Georgiou NA, Marx JJ, Weiss G, Solomons NW. Impact of oral iron challenges on circulating non-transferrin-bound iron in healthy Guatemalan males. Ann Nutr Metab. 2012;60(2):98-107. doi: 10.1159/000336177. Epub 2012 Mar 6. PMID 22398912

• Thomas Walczyk, Ph.D, Principal investigator, National University of Singapore