Iron-binding ability of melanoidins from food and model systems

Soluble high molecular weight fractions isolated from the development of the Maillard reaction in 22 different model systems and food matrices were studied in order to assess their iron-chelating ability in vitro. Melanoidins and iron were incubated in a Na-acetate buffer (0.1 M, pH 5) at different weight ratios and free iron was measured by FAAS and the bathophenantroline procedure at the steady state. Melanoidins were classified at three levels according to their number of co-ordination sites for iron. Melanoidins from coffee (medium roasted), different types of beer (Pilsener, Abbeys, and dry-stout styles), and sweet wine (Pedro Ximenez) exerted a low iron-binding effect compared with melanoidins from model systems. The type of sugar was shown to be a significant parameter for obtaining melanoidins with high iron ability, and glucose was more efficient than lactose. No relationship was observed between browning and iron binding ability of melanoidins from model systems. The chromophoric residues were not the main co-ordination sites for iron complexation in the melanoidin structure.