Haem and non-haem iron in British household diets
1980
Bull, Nicola L. | Buss, D.H.
Levels of haem iron, natural non-heme iron and iron in fortified foods were calculated for average household diets and in families with four or more children in Britain. Average daily intakes for smaller households were 1.3, 9.7, and 1.1 mg, respectively. In larger families, values observed were 0.8, 8.6, and 1.2 mg, respectively. These findings suggest that intakes of the three main forms of dietary iron in larger families met only 82-85% of recommended dietary allowances, compared with 98% in the national average diet. These results are partly explained by the fact of children having smaller appetites. In addition, calculations assumed that 10% of the domestic food intake was wasted, which may be too high a deduction in large families. Total iron content of the diet was low in large families, and the proportion of well-absorbed heme iron was 35% below average. Estimates of the amount of iron absorbed are 6-7% of iron intake. These values are less than the 10% assumed in making dietary recommendations.
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