Women Need More Iron According to New Nutrition Recommendations
“The new recommendations provide a guide as to how much of each essential vitamin and mineral the average healthy person should consume over time," says Susan Barr, chair of the joint Canada-US Subcommittee on the Interpretation and Uses of Dietary Reference Intakes. Speaking at a workshop for members of the Dietitians of Canada, Dr. Barr pointed out that the recommendations for some nutrients, such as iron and folate, are considerably higher than in the past, particularly for teenage girls and young women.
For menstruating women, the iron recommendation has risen more than a third (from 13 to 18 milligrams per day). "Studies show that many girls and women are losing significant amounts of iron each month with their menstrual flow. If this iron isn't replaced, stores become depleted," explains Dr. Barr, director of the graduate program in Human Nutrition at the University of British Columbia. "Current estimates suggest that about 15 percent of women of childbearing age have low iron status. The most severe form, iron deficiency anemia, is associated with fatigue, reduced exercise performance and cold intolerance. It also may interfere with concentration at school."
The recommendations are even higher for pregnant women, up to 27 milligrams per day. If women become anemic during pregnancy, it can increase the risk of premature delivery, low birth weight and infant mortality.
Moreover, babies born without adequate iron stores are at high risk for developing anemia during infancy. Anemia during this critical early growth stage has been associated with delayed physical and mental development which may not be completely reversed, even when the anemia is treated.
Folate recommendations have increased for all age groups, but again there is particular emphasis on women during their childbearing years. "There is good evidence linking the incidence of neural tube defects during early fetal growth with the mother's folate intake," says Dr. Barr.
Iron and Adult Women