A groundbreaking development from MIT researchers proposes a novel method to combat global iron deficiency, which affects approximately 2 billion people worldwide. By incorporating small crystalline particles known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) into foods and beverages, this innovation aims to address malnutrition without altering the taste or quality of staple items like coffee, tea, and bread.
The announcement comes as iron deficiency continues to be a major global health issue, leading to conditions such as anemia, impaired cognitive development in children, and increased infant mortality. Ana Jaklenec, a principal investigator at MIT’s Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, explains that the goal was to create a fortification method that could be universally applied across different dietary staples without the need for reformulation.
Revolutionizing Food Fortification
Traditional methods of food fortification often face challenges due to the fragile nature of many nutrients, which can degrade during storage or cooking. Iron, in particular, tends to react with other food molecules, resulting in an undesirable metallic taste. Previous attempts to stabilize iron through encapsulation in polymers have been limited by the bulkiness of the polymer, which restricts the amount of iron that can be delivered effectively.
In a breakthrough, MIT postdoc Xin Yang proposed using iron itself as a building block for MOFs, which are composed of metal atoms linked by organic molecules to form a stable, cage-like structure. This innovative approach allows for high porosity, enabling the MOFs to carry a significant amount of iron without the bulk associated with polymers.
Metal-Organic Frameworks: A Flexible Solution
The researchers designed a MOF using iron and fumaric acid, a common food additive. This structure prevents iron from reacting with polyphenols found in foods like whole grains and nuts, as well as beverages such as coffee and tea. The MOFs remain stable until they reach the stomach, where they release their iron payload in the acidic environment.
“Metal-organic frameworks have very high porosity, so they can load a lot of cargo. That’s why we thought we could leverage this platform to make a new metal-organic framework that could be used in the food industry,” said Xin Yang.
Expanding Nutrient Fortification
The versatility of MOFs extends beyond iron. The MIT team has also incorporated iodine into their MOF particles, dubbed NuMOFs, addressing the challenge of delivering both nutrients simultaneously. Traditionally, combining iron and iodine has been problematic due to their tendency to react with each other, reducing absorption. However, the NuMOFs successfully isolate the two, maintaining their stability and efficacy.
Tests have shown that NuMOFs withstand long-term storage and extreme conditions such as high heat and humidity. When administered to mice, both iron and iodine were effectively absorbed into the bloodstream within hours, demonstrating the potential of this technology for human application.
Commercialization and Future Prospects
The researchers are now in the process of launching a company focused on developing iron and iodine-fortified beverages, including coffee. They are also exploring the possibility of creating double-fortified salts, which could be used independently or integrated into staple foods, further expanding the reach of this nutritional advancement.
Robert Langer, a senior author of the study and a member of the Koch Institute, expressed enthusiasm for the potential impact: “We are very excited about this new approach and what we believe is a novel application of metal-organic frameworks to potentially advance nutrition, particularly in the developing world.”
Implications for Global Health
This development represents a significant step forward in the fight against malnutrition, offering a scalable and adaptable solution that can be tailored to diverse dietary needs across the globe. The ability to fortify a wide range of foods and beverages without compromising taste or nutritional integrity could revolutionize public health strategies aimed at reducing nutrient deficiencies.
As the research progresses, the potential for MOFs to carry other essential nutrients like zinc, calcium, and magnesium opens new avenues for comprehensive dietary supplementation. The ongoing efforts to commercialize and implement this technology could lead to widespread improvements in global nutrition, particularly in regions where malnutrition remains a critical concern.
For further details, the study titled “Ferrous Nutritional Metal Organic Framework (NuMOF) as Food Fortificant” is published in the journal Matter, providing an in-depth look at the science behind this innovative approach to food fortification.
