Why Iron is an important nutrient through your life?

Iron food sources

** Don't assume you have an Iron deficiency without your physician counseling !!

Sources of Iron: (Spinach/ Beef meat/ Liver/ Nuts/ Chickpeas/ Octopus/ Oysters/ Tuna/ Sardines/ Apricots/ Oats/ Soy beans/ Tofu/ Lentils/ Kidney Beans/ Pumpkin seeds)

Iron recommendations for infants (0-12 months):

- Why should infants use Iron fortified formulas or Iron fortified cereals with Iron compounds of high relative bio-availability and adequate vitamin C? … because it can prevent Iron deficiency and the concomitant developmental delays and abnormal behaviors. - For breast fed infants : there is no need for supplementation before the age of 4-6 months. - For infants who are not breast fed: it’s recommended to use Iron fortified formulas from birth to the end of the first year.

Iron recommendations for preschool children and school children (1-13 years):

- This age is a high risk for Iron deficiency. - Why is it needed? … to maintain hemoglobin concentration and to support growth and to prevent anemia especially for ages 1-3 years. - How can I know that my child may have an Iron deficiency?... symptoms of Iron deficiency: fatigue/ decreased growth/ impaired resistance to infection/ poor performance

Iron recommendations for Adolescences (14-18 years):

- There is an increase in Iron requirements during puberty - Why is it needed? …. Because of the increase in blood volume and red cell mass and for the synthesis of myoglobin and hemoglobin also to compensate for Iron losses.

Iron recommendations for Older Adults (+65 years):

- Iron absorption doesn’t appear to decline significantly with age and Iron stores appear to increase. - However, inadequate Iron intake and reduced absorption might be a problem. - Factors lead to Iron deficiency in elderly: infection/ cancer/ renal failure/ rheumatoid arthritis. - Why should we avoid Iron deficiency during this age?... to support the work of numerous proteins/ and to avoid the prevalence of anemia.