Wellness Foods - June 2008 - (Page 16)

Vitamins and Minerals Iron Strong as I New formulations for iron are making it easier for processors to include the vital metal in beverages and foods. Iron By Mark Anthony, Ph.D., Technical Editor ron is a critical element in the metabolism of nearly every living organism. For humans, it’s an essential constituent in a vast array of proteins. Hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells, holds about two-thirds of the body’s iron. It is involved in the transport and storage of oxygen. Myoglobin in muscle cells helps to match the supply of oxygen to the demands of working muscles. Cytochromes are iron-containing compounds critical to cellular respiration. The iron-containing enzymes catalase and peroxidase protect cells from the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide, a potentially damaging reactive oxygen compound. During development, iron is required to build myelin, the nerve insulation that makes signal transport ef cient. Iron is needed for brain chemicals, such as the neurotransmitter dopamine. For all that, iron de ciency is the most common nutrient de ciency in the U.S. and one of the causes of disability and death worldwide. There are three stages of iron de ciency: low iron stores; low functional iron, which affects red blood cell formation; and iron de ciency anemia, the most severe form. In iron de ciency anemia, red blood cells are smaller than normal (microcytic) and lower in hemoglobin (hypochromic), which impairs the delivery of oxygen to tissues. This results in typical symptoms of fatigue, rapid heart rate, palpitations and rapid breathing upon exertion. Iron de ciency can result from high growth rate, blood loss, restricted diet or any combination of these factors. Infants and children up to 4 years old are at risk. Babies get iron from mother’s milk, but rapid growth demands more iron after the rst four to six months. Women who are pregnant or of child bearing age and adolescents are particularly vulnerable, as are women who are 16 | June 2008 www.wellnessfoodsonline.com Food Processing’s Wellness Foods™ http://www.wellnessfoodsonline.com

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Wellness Foods - June 2008 Feeding Baby B12 Pumps Up Energy Drinks Strong as Iron The Lure of Lignans

Wellness Foods - June 2008

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