Function:
Iron is present in all cells and is vital for the function
and formation of hemoglobin which transports oxygen in the
bloodstream. It is also needed to form myoglobin in muscle
and plays a role in many enzymatic processes.
Recommended
Dietary Allowance:
For men and post-menopausal women 8 mg per day and for pre-menopausal
women 18 mg per day (because of iron lost in menstruation).
Pregnant
women should consume 27 mg per day, which usually requires
taking a small supplement.
Women
who breast-feed and are not menstruating 9 mg per day.Adolescents
who breast-feed 10 mg daily.
Human
milk provides enough iron for infants only until they are
6 months old. It is recommended that older infants between
the ages of 7 months and 12 months who are breast-fed be
given foods or formula containing additional iron. Older
infants receiving formula also should be given iron-fortified
formula or foods.
Deficiency:
Deficiency results in a reduced amount of hemoglobin (iron
deficiency anemia). More iron is needed during pregnancy
and in childhood during periods of growth.
Sources:
Foods
high in iron include organ meats, wheat germ, egg yolks,
fruits, and some dried beans. Because the absorption of
iron from plant foods is low compared to that from animal
foods, vegetarians need to be vigilant in order to meet
their daily requirement.
Toxicity
and UL:
Death is possible from overdosing of iron preparations.
Acute gastrointestinal upset is the most common symptom
but the kidney, liver, central nervous system, and heart
can also be affected. Hemochromatosis is a hereditary disorder
in which there is excessive iron stored primarily in the
liver.
The
UL for iron is 45 mg a day for adults.
Recommendation:
Daily
iron supplementation should not be necessary except as mentioned
above. In fact supplementing with iron may mask slow blood
loss and delay a diagnosis of an important disorder such
as cancer or a bleeding peptic ulcer. Consult your doctor
before taking a supplement with iron in it.
For
more information visit:
http://osu.orst.edu/dept/lpi/infocenter/minerals/iron/
