Vitamin A stability in triple fortified salt

A triple fortified salt (TFS) containing vitamin A, iron and iodine was produced and studied under two controlled climatic conditions: 40 °C, 60% and 100% relative humidity (RH) for three months. The stability of commercially available vitamin A products and the effect of different iron and iodine compounds on vitamin A stability were investigated. The highest vitamin A stability was observed in premixes made with vitamin A palmitates stabilized in a solid matrix. Our best TFS formulation retained 65 ± 2% of vitamin at 60% RH. The highest retention at 100% RH was 45 ± 1%. The TFS containing vitamin A acetate retained a maximum of 48 ± 5% at 60% RH. Introduction of all three micronutrients into one premix particle resulted in reduced vitamin A retention to ∼10% at 60% RH. Vitamin A was more stable with ferric sodium EDTA than with any other iron compound. The source of iodine did not significantly affect vitamin A retention.