One-third of Australian women of reproductive age have 'sub-optimal' iron status

By Cheryl Tay

- Last updated on GMT

Haem iron is found in meat and fish, while the non-haem iron is found in plant foods. ©Getty Images
Haem iron is found in meat and fish, while the non-haem iron is found in plant foods. ©Getty Images
Researchers say women of reproductive age should ensure sufficient intake of both haem and non-haem iron to ensure healthy levels of serum ferritin, after an Australian study found one-third of subjects had sub-optimal status.

Haem and non-haem iron are the two types of iron found in foods. The former is found in meat and fish, while the latter is found in plant foods, such as vegetables, beans and cereals.

Inadequate iron intake can lead to iron deficiency or iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA), and is a common issue for Australian women of reproductive age.

As such, researchers in Australia conducted a study to analyse biochemical data and dietary intake in 299 generally healthy women aged 18 to 35 to determine the link between haem and non-haem iron intake and serum ferritin.

Levels of iron

They found that approximately a third of the study subjects had sub-optimal iron status. Those with iron deficiency or IDA consumed significantly lower total energy than those with a higher iron levels.

"This high prevalence of sub-optimal iron status, when compared to current estimates of 20% within the Australian population, confirms the relevance of examining this nutrient deficiency in young women," ​they wrote.

The researchers also observed that haem iron was a stronger predictor of serum ferritin than non-haem iron; this might have been due to haem iron being more easily absorbed by the body than non-haem iron.

They wrote: "The study demonstrates that intake of both haem iron and non-haem iron, as well as adequate dietary energy, are associated with normal iron status levels in young women, and that restrained eaters may be at greater risk of low iron status."

Other considerations

"It may be taken to suggest that to maintain optimal serum ferritin levels, young women in Australia should be encouraged to consume iron-rich foods and to refrain from unnecessary energy restriction, or to seek professional dietetic advice when energy is restricted, to assist in optimising intake of iron and other micronutrients"​.

At the same time, because haem iron is a stronger predictor of serum ferritin than non-haem iron, the researchers said sources of haem iron — especially red meat, which is more iron-rich than white meat — are important in maintaining iron status.

Still, they concluded that "further studies are needed to confirm the effect of alterations to intake of red meat on biochemically-assessed iron status"​.

"In the case of non-haem iron, and particularly for vegetarians who exclude haem iron sources, adequate intake of non-haem iron, and meal planning to optimise enhancers and minimise inhibitors should be considered."

 

Source: Nutrients

https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10010081

"Association between Haem and Non-Haem Iron Intake and Serum Ferritin in Healthy Young Women"

Authors: Isabel Young, et al.

Related news

Related products

show more

ACTRISAVE™ NATURAL SUPPORT FOR SKIN AND MALE HAIR

ACTRISAVE™ NATURAL SUPPORT FOR SKIN AND MALE HAIR

Content provided by BIONAP BIOACTIVE NATURAL PRODUCTS | 04-Sep-2024 | Product Brochure

ACTRISAVE™ is a powdered extract obtained from the patented association between black rice (Oryza sativa L.) and the flowers of prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica...

ATP + Creatine: The Ultimate Performance Boost

ATP + Creatine: The Ultimate Performance Boost

Content provided by TSI Group | 20-Aug-2024 | White Paper

Creatine is a highly researched supplement known for enhancing exercise performance by rapidly producing energy. When combined with ATP, this duo enhances...

Ingredients to support women at every life stage

Ingredients to support women at every life stage

Content provided by Gencor | 21-Jun-2024 | White Paper

While addressing women’s health across all stages of life, we might as well have opened Pandora’s box. Dietary supplements can play an important role in...

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars

Nutra Champions Podcast