Iron can be a finicky essential mineral to get enough of. In fact, iron deficiency is one of the most prevalent deficiencies in the world.
While some of our iron needs are met endogenously (i.e., derived from within the body from breaking down our own red blood cells), we all have daily iron needs from exogenous sources. We need 8-27mgs of iron daily, depending on our gender and life stage.
Iron has low bioavailability
Iron is notoriously difficult to absorb. Furthermore, we lose a certain amount of iron (e.g., in our urine, sweat, etc.) each day, and menstruating women lose even more iron when they get their periods each month. Therefore, we require a certain amount of dietary ironto make up for these losses.
There are two types of dietary iron: Heme iron that comes from animal food sources (e.g. meat, fish, and poultry) and non-heme iron that comes from both plants and animals. Non-heme iron is not absorbed as easily as heme iron, so individuals that don’t eat meat may struggle to get adequate bioavailable iron from their diet.
If you need a little more iron, supplements are a complementary way to increase your intake. As far as form goes, there’s a wide spectrum of quality, gentleness, and bioavailability in iron supplements. When in doubt, look for a supplement with ferrous bisglycinate (i.e., the amino acid chelated form) for optimal absorption and gentleness.
Whether you’re looking to increase your absorption of dietary non-heme iron or you’d just like to enhance the effectiveness of your iron supplementation, there’s a secret weapon that will help you maintain sufficient iron levels.
How does vitamin C enhance iron absorption?
In the intestine, heme and non-heme iron are separated into two separate pools. Generally, the heme iron absorption goes off without a hitch, while the non-heme iron is greatly affected by the other nutrients present in your last meal.
Certain nutrients, such as anti-nutrient phytates (the stored form of phosphorus found in grains, seeds, and legumes), phytonutrient polyphenols (organic compounds found in plants), and calcium, inhibit the full absorption of non-heme iron.
Luckily, vitamin C works to enhance the bioavailability of non-heme iron.
Additionally, vitamin C optimises the uptake of iron from transferrin (the protein that transports iron through the blood), ensuring that iron is absorbed not only properly but efficiently distributed in the body as well.
The Vintage Avenue Team x
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