Hyderabad: With bioavailability and absorption issues, there are new estimated average requirements for dietary allowance of iron in children and adolescents in India, according to a study published in the journal, Indian Paediatrics.
The estimated average requirement of iron derived for children aged 1 to 9 years is 5.6 to 11.0 mg/ per day. For adolescents aged 10 to 17 years, it ranged from 10.8 to 18.4 mg/ per day and above 18 years it was derived as 15.4 to 18.5 mg per day.
These new estimates have been drawn from the bioavailability adjusted daily physiological iron requirement, keeping in mind the daily iron losses from the body. Iron is also required for the growth of tissues in children and adolescents. The new calculations of estimated average requirement (EAR) and recommended dietary allowances (RDA) are based on the adequacy or inadequacy of the diet of Indian children.
Sirishti Sinha, researcher of the project explained, “The EAR has been set as a yardstick for population studies because it is found that 50 per cent of the normal values are lost within one year due to wear and tear in the body. Hence the EAR gives a better calculation of requirement when compared to the RDA. The EAR can be used as a yardstick to inform about iron supplementation and food fortification process to deal with iron deficiencies in children.”
The new methods are being researched to understand how iron deficiencies can be tackled with supplementation apart from the intake of iron-rich foods.
Nutritionist M. Sana said, “The bioavailability and absorption of the body is not sufficient if there is too much intake of beverages and tea along with iron rich foods. Poor combination of foods is found to be one of the reasons for lack of absorption.”
