Iron Supplementation and Fortification

Reference from the joint report of FAO/WHO expert consultation on Human Vitamins and Minerals verbatim.

The prevention of iron deficiency has become even more urgent in recent years with the accumulation of evidence strongly suggesting a relationship between even mild iron deficiency and brain development and especially with the observation that functional defects affecting learning and behaviour cannot be reversed by giving iron later on. As mentioned, iron deficiency is common both in developed and in developing countries. Great efforts have been made by WHO to develop methods to combat iron deficiency.

Iron deficiency can generally be combated by one or more of the following three strategies: 1) iron supplementation (i.e., giving iron tablets to certain target groups such as pregnant women and preschool children); 2) iron fortification of certain foods, such as flour; and 3) food and nutrition education to improve the amount of iron absorbed from the diet by increasing the intake of iron and especially by improving the bio-availability of the dietary iron. 

Several factors determine the feasibility and effectiveness of different strategies, such as the health infrastructure of a society, the economy, access to suitable vehicles for iron fortification, etc. The solutions are therefore often quite different in developing and developed countries. There is an urgency to obtain knowledge about the feasibility of different methods to improve iron nutrition and to apply present knowledge. In addition, initiation of local activities should be stimulated while actions from governments are awaited.