The role of meat in iron nutrition of vulnerable groups of the UK population

Iron deficiency is a common public health problem in the UK. This review examines the role of meat in iron nutrition, focusing on the most vulnerable groups of the UK population. Meat contains haem iron which is absorbed by a different pathway to non-haem iron found in cereals and vegetables. A summ...

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Main Author: Susan Fairweather-Tait
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Animal Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fanim.2023.1142252/full
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author Susan Fairweather-Tait
author_facet Susan Fairweather-Tait
author_sort Susan Fairweather-Tait
collection DOAJ
description Iron deficiency is a common public health problem in the UK. This review examines the role of meat in iron nutrition, focusing on the most vulnerable groups of the UK population. Meat contains haem iron which is absorbed by a different pathway to non-haem iron found in cereals and vegetables. A summary of absorption data from studies using isotopically-labelled haem iron shows that, although there is a wide degree of variation, haem iron bioavailability is consistently higher than non-haem iron. The importance of meat alternatives, such a plant protein, insects, and biofortified crops as a supply of bioavailable iron, and the use of food iron fortification is reviewed. Finally, the consequences of excluding meat from the diet in relation to dietary iron requirements is discussed.
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spelling doaj.art-a9f78d25e05a4184ba7225db3cfbf3202023-04-19T04:34:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Animal Science2673-62252023-04-01410.3389/fanim.2023.11422521142252The role of meat in iron nutrition of vulnerable groups of the UK populationSusan Fairweather-TaitIron deficiency is a common public health problem in the UK. This review examines the role of meat in iron nutrition, focusing on the most vulnerable groups of the UK population. Meat contains haem iron which is absorbed by a different pathway to non-haem iron found in cereals and vegetables. A summary of absorption data from studies using isotopically-labelled haem iron shows that, although there is a wide degree of variation, haem iron bioavailability is consistently higher than non-haem iron. The importance of meat alternatives, such a plant protein, insects, and biofortified crops as a supply of bioavailable iron, and the use of food iron fortification is reviewed. Finally, the consequences of excluding meat from the diet in relation to dietary iron requirements is discussed.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fanim.2023.1142252/fulliron deficiencyiron intake from meatiron bioavailabilitymeat alternativeshaem iron
spellingShingle Susan Fairweather-Tait
The role of meat in iron nutrition of vulnerable groups of the UK population
Frontiers in Animal Science
iron deficiency
iron intake from meat
iron bioavailability
meat alternatives
haem iron
title The role of meat in iron nutrition of vulnerable groups of the UK population
title_full The role of meat in iron nutrition of vulnerable groups of the UK population
title_fullStr The role of meat in iron nutrition of vulnerable groups of the UK population
title_full_unstemmed The role of meat in iron nutrition of vulnerable groups of the UK population
title_short The role of meat in iron nutrition of vulnerable groups of the UK population
title_sort role of meat in iron nutrition of vulnerable groups of the uk population
topic iron deficiency
iron intake from meat
iron bioavailability
meat alternatives
haem iron
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fanim.2023.1142252/full
work_keys_str_mv AT susanfairweathertait theroleofmeatinironnutritionofvulnerablegroupsoftheukpopulation
AT susanfairweathertait roleofmeatinironnutritionofvulnerablegroupsoftheukpopulation