Final answer:
Adult females need more iron than males due to menstrual blood loss, which can lead to iron deficiency anemia. This condition is more prevalent among women of childbearing age, necessitating higher dietary iron intake to replenish lost stores and support bodily functions like oxygen transport.
Step-by-step explanation:
Adult females need more iron in their diet than males primarily due to the iron loss that occurs during menstruation. Women have higher recommended daily intakes of iron to compensate for this loss and to maintain healthy iron stores.
Iron is a critical mineral that is involved in producing hemoglobin, a component of red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. Iron deficiency anemia is more common in women, especially those of childbearing age, due to blood lost during menstruation. This condition can result in fatigue, weakness, and a decreased ability to perform physical activities.
While adult men and postmenopausal women typically have negligible dietary iron requirements unless they have a deficiency, premenopausal women need to ensure they are getting enough iron to account for what is lost each month. Pregnant women and those who are breastfeeding require even more iron to support the growth and development of the fetus and to compensate for blood loss during childbirth.
The recommended dietary intake of iron for premenopausal women is about 18 mg per day, and this can be sourced from both animal products like red meats and shellfish and non-animal sources such as seeds, nuts, legumes, and fortified breakfast cereals. Consuming vitamin C alongside iron-rich foods can enhance the body's absorption of iron.