Iron Vs. Zinc for Iron Metabolism

Iron Vs. Zinc for Iron Metabolism

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil--Iron supplementation in women with marginal iron status improved iron status without affecting zinc status; however, while zinc supplementation improves zinc indices, it also appears to induce iron deficiency, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of Nutrition (132, 7:1860-4, 2002) (www.nutrition.org). Researchers from the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro assigned 11 women to receive zinc supplementation (22 mg/d of zinc gluconate) and 12 women to receive iron supplementation (100 mg/d as ferrous sulfate) for six weeks to determine the supplements' effects on iron and zinc metabolism. The women in the study were aged 20 to 28 years and were nonanemic, but they had low iron stores. Results indicated that while iron supplementation improved iron indices and did not affect zinc indices, zinc supplementation decreased iron absorption.

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