Clinical implications of changes in the modern diet: Iron intake, absorption and status

Anne-Louise M. Heath, Susan J. Fairweather-Tait

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

78 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The modern British diet contains less red meat and is lower in iron than that consumed 30 years ago. This is in spite of the fact that fortification of foods, particularly breakfast cereals, with iron has become more widespread. Although there is no clear relationship between dietary iron intake and iron status, isotope studies have identified multiple dietary factors that influence iron absorption, such as ascorbic acid, animal tissue, phytates and polyphenols. There is no evidence to suggest that current dietary changes will have a major impact on iron status in the general population; however, effects on the incidence of iron overload in individuals with HFE mutations and iron deficiency in children and premenopausal women remain to be determined.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)225-241
Number of pages17
JournalBest Practice & Research: Clinical Haematology
Volume15
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2002

Keywords

  • Anemia, Iron-Deficiency
  • Diet
  • England
  • Food Habits
  • Humans
  • Iron
  • Iron Overload
  • Iron, Dietary

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