Iron in diet
•Richest sources of heme iron -lean meat , seafood.
Dietary sources of nonheme iron - nuts, beans,
vegetables, and fortified grain products.
•Heme iron has higher bioavailability than nonheme iron-
bioavailability 14- 18% from mixed diets that include
substantial amounts of meat/fish and 5% to 12% from
vegetarian diets
•Vitamin C enhances the bioavailability of nonheme iron
•Meat, poultry, and fish enhance nonheme iron
absorption, whereas phytate (present in grains and beans)
and certain polyphenols in some non-animal foods (such
as cereals and legumes) inhibit absorption