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Iron

HGIC 4066

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Why We Need It

Iron is a mineral that is found in every cell in the body. It is an important part of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all the cells. Our cells use oxygen to make energy from the food we eat. Iron also is needed to keep the immune system healthy and help brain cells work normally.

Sources

Here are some foods and the amount of iron they contain.

Sources of Iron

Food	Iron(mg per serving)
mg = milligrams oz = ounces
fortified cereal, 1 cup	5-30
clams, canned, ¼ cup	11
liverwurst, 2 oz	6
baked beans, canned, 1 cup	4
beef burrito, 1	3
lean sirloin, broiled, 3 oz	3
wheat germ, ¼ cup	3
prune juice, ¾ cup	2
bean burrito, 1	2
beef, lean ground, cooked, 3 oz	2
white rice, enriched, ½ cup	1

Both animal and plant foods contain iron, but our bodies absorb the iron from meats better than from plants. To increase the amount of iron that is absorbed from plant foods, eat them with foods high in vitamin C or with meat, poultry or fish. Some foods high in vitamin C include oranges, strawberries, and peppers.

There are two forms of dietary iron: heme and nonheme. Heme iron is found in animal foods such as red meats, fish and poultry. Iron in plant foods such as lentils and beans is nonheme iron. This is the form of iron added to iron-enriched and iron-fortified foods.

Heme iron from animal foods is absorbed better than nonheme iron from iron-rich plant foods. However, most dietary iron is nonheme iron.

Recommended Daily Intakes of Iron

		Age		Iron*(mg/day)
mg = milligrams *Vegetarians should get 1.8 times the normal requirement for iron. For example, vegetarian men need 14 mg of iron per day (8 mg x 1.8 = 14). Source: adapted from the Dietary Reference Intakes series, National Academies Press. Copyright 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, by the National Academies of Sciences.
Infants	birth–6 months			0.27
	6 months–1 year			11
Children	1–3 years			7
	4–8 years			10
Males	9–13 years			8
	14-18 years			11
	19 years and over			8
Females	9–13 years			8
	14-18 years			15
	19-50 years			18
	51 years and over			8
	pregnant			27
	breastfeeding		≤ 18	10
			19-50	9

Women of childbearing age who may become pregnant and adolescent females should eat:

• foods that are a source of heme-iron (e.g. meats) and/or
• iron-rich plant foods (e.g. cooked dry beans or spinach) or
• iron-fortified foods (e.g. fortified cereals) along with a source of vitamin C.

Iron in the Vegetarian Diet

The iron in non-animal foods is not well absorbed. Vegetarian diets lack factors from meat that improve iron absorption. Therefore, it is important for vegetarians to consume plant sources of foods that contain nonheme iron, such as iron-fortified cereals and bread, tofu, cooked dry beans and peas, and some dark green leafy vegetables.

A vitamin C-rich food should be included at every meal to help increase iron absorption. Oranges, cantaloupe, strawberries, green pepper and broccoli are examples of vitamin C-rich foods.

Cooking food in iron pots or skillets allows some of the utensil’s iron to pass into the food, especially foods that are high in acid such as tomatoes, citrus foods and vinegar. Simmering foods, like soups and stews, for a while in iron pots or skillets also helps dissolve small amounts of iron from the pot into the cooking liquids.

If We Don’t Get Enough

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world. Severe iron deficiency can lead to one type of anemia. Iron deficiency can be caused by several factors including:

• not getting enough iron in the diet
• not absorbing iron properly
• losing blood from injury or illness

Red blood cells must contain adequate iron in order to carry enough oxygen to other body cells.

Signs of an iron deficiency include:

• fatigue
• infections
• muscle weakness
• lack of ability to concentrate

Supplements

Iron supplements are needed by some people, including pregnant women and people with an iron deficiency. If you do not get enough iron from food, then you may choose to take a multivitamin/mineral supplement that contains iron. An overdose of iron can be fatal, so always keep supplements out of the reach of children.

Too much iron can be toxic to the body. It may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. The liver can be damaged by consuming too much iron over a long period of time.

Too much iron from supplements also can reduce the amount of zinc that the body can absorb. You should not get more than 45 mg of iron per day from food and supplements.

For More Information

The Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) agent at your county Extension office may have more written information and nutrition classes for you to attend. Also, your doctor, health care provider, or a registered dietitian (RD) can provide reliable information.

Reliable nutrition information may be found on the Internet at the following sites:
http://hgic.clemson.edu
http://virtual.clemson.edu/groups/NIRC/
http://www.eatright.org
http://www.nutrition.gov
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic