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Zeidan RS, Martenson M, Tamargo JA, McLaren C, Ezzati A, Lin Y, Yang JJ, Yoon HS, McElroy T, Collins JF, Leeuwenburgh C, Mankowski RT, Anton S. Iron homeostasis in older adults: balancing nutritional requirements and health risks. J Nutr Health Aging 2024; 28:100212. [PMID: 38489995 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnha.2024.100212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Iron plays a crucial role in many physiological processes, including oxygen transport, bioenergetics, and immune function. Iron is assimilated from food and also recycled from senescent red blood cells. Iron exists in two dietary forms: heme (animal based) and non-heme (mostly plant based). The body uses iron for metabolic purposes, and stores the excess mainly in splenic and hepatic macrophages. Physiologically, iron excretion in humans is inefficient and not highly regulated, so regulation of intestinal absorption maintains iron homeostasis. Iron losses occur at a steady rate via turnover of the intestinal epithelium, blood loss, and exfoliation of dead skin cells, but overall iron homeostasis is tightly controlled at cellular and systemic levels. Aging can have a profound impact on iron homeostasis and induce a dyshomeostasis where iron deficiency or overload (sometimes both simultaneously) can occur, potentially leading to several disorders and pathologies. To maintain physiologically balanced iron levels, reduce risk of disease, and promote healthy aging, it is advisable for older adults to follow recommended daily intake guidelines and periodically assess iron levels. Clinicians can evaluate body iron status using different techniques but selecting an assessment method primarily depends on the condition being examined. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the forms, sources, and metabolism of dietary iron, associated disorders of iron dyshomeostasis, assessment of iron levels in older adults, and nutritional guidelines and strategies to maintain iron balance in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rola S Zeidan
- Department of Physiology and Aging, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Matthew Martenson
- Department of Physiology and Aging, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Javier A Tamargo
- Department of Physiology and Aging, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Christian McLaren
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Armin Ezzati
- Department of Physiology and Aging, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Food, Nutrition, Dietetics and Health, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Yi Lin
- Department of Physiology and Aging, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jae Jeong Yang
- UF Health Cancer Center, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Hyung-Suk Yoon
- UF Health Cancer Center, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Taylor McElroy
- Department of Physiology and Aging, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - James F Collins
- Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Christiaan Leeuwenburgh
- Department of Physiology and Aging, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Robert T Mankowski
- Department of Physiology and Aging, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Stephen Anton
- Department of Physiology and Aging, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
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Koeder C, Perez-Cueto FJA. Vegan nutrition: a preliminary guide for health professionals. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2022; 64:670-707. [PMID: 35959711 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2022.2107997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Since the beginning of the 21st century, interest in vegan diets has been rapidly increasing in most countries. Misconceptions about vegan diets are widespread among the general population and health professionals. Vegan diets can be health-promoting and may offer certain important advantages compared to typical Western (and other mainstream) eating patterns. However, adequate dietary sources/supplements of nutrients of focus specific to vegan diets should be identified and communicated. Without supplements/fortified foods, severe vitamin B12 deficiency may occur. Other potential nutrients of focus are calcium, vitamin D, iodine, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, selenium, vitamin A, and protein. Ensuring adequate nutrient status is particularly important during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, and childhood. Health professionals are often expected to be able to provide advice on the topic of vegan nutrition, but a precise and practical vegan nutrition guide for health professionals is lacking. Consequently, it is important and urgent to provide such a set of dietary recommendations. It is the aim of this article to provide vegan nutrition guidelines, based on current evidence, which can easily be communicated to vegan patients/clients, with the goal of ensuring adequate nutrient status in vegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Koeder
- Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Leibniz University Hanover, Hanover, Germany
- Department of Nutrition, University of Applied Sciences Münster, Münster, Germany
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Chouraqui JP. Dietary Approaches to Iron Deficiency Prevention in Childhood—A Critical Public Health Issue. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14081604. [PMID: 35458166 PMCID: PMC9026685 DOI: 10.3390/nu14081604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Iron is an essential nutrient, and individual iron status is determined by the regulation of iron absorption, which is driven by iron requirements. Iron deficiency (ID) disproportionately affects infants, children, and adolescents, particularly those who live in areas with unfavorable socioeconomic conditions. The main reason for this is that diet provides insufficient bioavailable iron to meet their needs. The consequences of ID include poor immune function and response to vaccination, and moderate ID anemia is associated with depressed neurodevelopment and impaired cognitive and academic performances. The persistently high prevalence of ID worldwide leads to the need for effective measures of ID prevention. The main strategies include the dietary diversification of foods with more bioavailable iron and/or the use of iron-fortified staple foods such as formula or cereals. However, this strategy may be limited due to its cost, especially in low-income countries where biofortification is a promising approach. Another option is iron supplementation. In terms of health policy, the choice between mass and targeted ID prevention depends on local conditions. In any case, this remains a critical public health issue in many countries that must be taken into consideration, especially in children under 5 years of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Pierre Chouraqui
- Pediatric Nutrition and Gastroenterology Unit, Woman, Mother and Child Department, University Hospital of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
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