Question

The RDA for iron is ____ milligrams per day for adult men and ____ milligrams per day for non-pregnant adult women (prior to menopause).

Answer 1

The RDA for iron is 10 mg/day for adult men and 18 mg/day for non-pregnant adult women before menopause. Only about 10% of consumed iron is absorbed, making it important to include iron-rich foods in the diet.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for iron is 10 milligrams per day for adult men and 18 milligrams per day for non-pregnant adult women (prior to menopause). These values consider the iron needs for most adults to maintain good health. The daily requirement of iron is important because only about 10% of ingested iron is absorbed by the body. For adult women, this reflects the average iron loss during menstruation, which typically amounts to an additional loss of 0.5 to 1.0 mg per day. It is also important to note that rich sources of iron include red meats and shellfish, while other good sources include seeds, nuts, legumes, and fortified cereals. Consuming vitamin C alongside iron-rich foods can increase iron absorption.