Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for iron

Abstract

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies derived Dietary Reference Values (DRVs) for iron. These include Average Requirement (AR) and Population Reference Intake (PRI). For adults, whole‐body iron losses were modelled using data from US adults. Predicted absorption values, at a serum ferritin concentration of 30 µg/L, of 16 % for men and 18 % for women were used to convert physiological requirements to dietary iron intakes. In men, median whole‐body iron losses are 0.95 mg/day, and the AR is 6 mg/day. The PRI, calculated as the dietary requirement at the 97.5th percentile, is 11 mg/day. For postmenopausal women, the same DRVs as for men are proposed. In premenopausal women, additional iron is lost through menstruation but, because losses are highly skewed, the Panel set a PRI of 16 mg/day to cover requirements of 95 % of the population. In infants and children, requirements were calculated factorially, taking into consideration the needs for growth, replacement of losses and percentage iron absorption from the diet (10 % up to 11 years and 16 % thereafter). PRIs were estimated using a coefficient of variation of 20 %. They are 11 mg/day in infants (7–11 months), 7 mg/day in children aged 1–6 years and 11 mg/day in children aged 7–11 years and boys aged 12–17 years. For girls aged 12–17 years, the PRI of 13 mg/day is the midpoint of the calculated dietary requirement of 97.5 % of girls and the PRI for premenopausal women; this approach allows for the large uncertainties in the rate and timing of pubertal growth and menarche. For pregnant and lactating women, for whom it was assumed that iron stores and enhanced absorption provide sufficient additional iron, DRVs are the same as for premenopausal women.

Dietary Reference Values for nutrients Summary report

“…Iron is required for oxygen transport, electron transfer, oxidase activities and energy metabolism (EFSA NDA Panel, 2015b). The main components of the body that contain iron are erythrocyte haemoglobin and muscle myoglobin, liver ferritin, and haem and non-haem enzymes.…”

Scientific opinion on the evaluation of authorised ferric sodium EDTA as an ingredient in the context of Regulation (EC) 258/97 on novel foods and Regulation (EU) 609/2013 on food intended for infants and young children, food for special medical purposes and total diet replacement for weight control

“…2.6-6.0 (4) 5.0-7.0 (5) 7.5-11.5 (7) 9.2-14.7 (7) 9.4-17.9 (8) 9.4-17.9 (8) B. Population reference intake for iron (EFSA NDA Panel, 2015) (a) (mg/day) 11 7 11 13(F) 11(M) 11-16(F) (b) 11(M) 11(F) 11(M) C. Estimated iron intake from ferric sodium EDTA in fortified foods, and foods for specific groups (mg/day) (a): Although the classification into age groups used by the NDA Panel in its 2015 opinion was slightly different from the one used by the ANS Panel, it was assumed that estimates of iron intake would still be comparable. The following age groups were used by the NDA Panel: < 1 year; 1 to < 3 years; 3 to < 10 years; 10 to < 18 years; > 18 years.…”

Safety and efficacy of iron compounds (E1) as feed additives for all animal species: ferrous carbonate; ferric chloride, hexahydrate; ferrous fumarate; ferrous sulphate, heptahydrate; ferrous sulphate, monohydrate; ferrous chelate of amino acids, hydrate; ferrous chelate of glycine, hydrate, based on a dossier submitted by FEFANA asbl

“…The Panel identified studies in which levels as low as 250 mg Fe/kg feed reduced copper content in liver (e.g. Bremner et al, 1987). Iron is known to be an important antagonist to copper (Standish et al, 1969;Standish and Ammerman, 1971;Campbell et al, 1974;Prince et al, 1979), but also to zinc and manganese (Grün et al 1978).…”