Journal Article

Assessment of Heme and Non-Heme Iron Intake and Its Dietary Sources among Adults in Armenia

Mantovani, Alberto, Stepanyan, Seda, Beglaryan, Meline, Pipoyan, Davit

2023

Overview

Adequate dietary iron (Fe) intake is crucial for preventing Fe-deficient anemia, a recognized global public health concern which is important in Armenia. This study aimed to analyze the intake of Fe, both heme (from animal tissues) and non-heme (more prevalent, but less efficiently absorbed), as well as the Fe dietary sources, among adults in a representative national sample in Armenia. The study was conducted on 1400 individuals aged 18–80 and above, who were enrolled from all regions of Armenia. The Fe intake was assessed through a 24 h dietary recall survey, while Fe occurrence was determined through atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The results showed a high proportion of adults with a Fe intake lower than the average requirements set by EFSA (65%, 80% and 85% of males, total females and females at fertile age, respectively). Main Fe sources were bread, fruits and vegetables; heme Fe accounted only for <5% of total Fe intake. Compared to males, females had a lower intake of all forms of Fe (p < 0.05). Significant differences were observed in the intake of different forms of Fe between regions (p < 0.05), while the age-group 36–55 years had higher intakes of total Fe. Our data call for comprehensive nutritional security strategies in order to reduce iron deficiency in Armenia, that represents a public health concern.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: Adults / Age groups / Anemia / Animals / Armenia / Armenia - epidemiology / atomic absorption spectrometry / breads / Data collection / Diet / diet recall / Female / Females / Flour / Food products / food security / Fruits / Gender / Health aspects / Heme / Hemoglobin / Iron / Iron in the body / Male / Mann-Whitney U test / Meat products / Metabolism / Nutritional Status / Population / public health / Statistical analysis / Surveys / Variance analysis