Authors : Ghosh S, Sinha S, Shivakumar N, Thomas T, Sachdev HS, Kurpad AV
Publication Year : 2019
OBJECTIVE:
This study aimed to define the estimated average requirement and the recommended dietary allowance of iron for Indian children and adolescents.
METHODS:
The Estimated average requirement was derived for children aged 1-17y, from the mean bioavailability-adjusted daily physiological iron requirement, which in turn was estimated using a factorial method. This consisted of mean daily iron losses from the body and additional iron required for tissue growth and storage, while also defining the variance of each factor to derive the Recommended dietary allowance.
RESULTS:
The estimated average requirement of iron for children ranged from 5.6 to 11.0 mg/d in children aged 1-9y. For adolescents aged 10-17y, these ranged from 10.8 to 18.4 mg/d and 15.4 to 18.5 mg/d for adolescent boys and girls, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS:
New estimates of estimated average requirement for iron in Indian children are presented, and same may be used to inform iron supplementation and food fortification policies.