Getting Enough Iron
Topic Overview
How much dietary iron is recommended each day?
Recommended daily amounts of iron from food
footnote 1
footnote 2
|
Men
|
Adult
|
8 mg
|
|
Women
|
Adult (age 50 and older)
|
8 mg
|
Adult (ages 19 to 50)
|
18 mg
|
Pregnant
|
27 mg
|
Lactating
|
9 mg to10 mg
|
|
Adolescents (ages 9 to 18)
|
Girls
|
8 mg to15 mg
|
Boys
|
8 mg to11 mg
|
|
Children (birth to age 8)
|
Ages 4 to 8
|
10 mg
|
Ages 1 to 3
|
7 mg
|
Infants (7 months to 1 year)
|
11 mg
|
Infants (birth to 6 months)
|
0.27 mg
|
What foods are high in iron?
You can get iron from many foods. Beef and turkey are good sources of iron from meat or animal protein. Beans are good sources of iron from plants. Iron from meat is absorbed by your body more fully than iron from plants. Some foods can decrease the amount of iron that your body will absorb. But meat and vitamin C can help your body absorb more iron from plants. Ask your doctor or registered dietitian about how to be sure you are getting enough iron.
Iron–fortified foods include cereals.
Meat and alternatives
footnote 3
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Serving size
|
Iron (mg)
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Beans, cooked
|
¾ cup (175 mL)
|
2.6–4.9
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Ground meat (beef, lamb), cooked
|
2½ oz (75 mg)
|
1.3–2.2 mg
|
Chicken, cooked
|
2½ oz (75 mg)
|
0.4–2.0
|
Tofu, cooked
|
¾ cup (175 mL)
|
2.4–8.0
|
Turkey, cooked
|
2½ oz (75 mg)
|
0.3–0.8
|
Vegetables and fruit
footnote 3
|
|
Serving size
|
Iron (mg)
|
Potato with skin, cooked
|
1 medium
|
1.3–1.9
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Prune juice
|
½ cup (125 mL)
|
1.6
|
Spinach (cooked)
|
½ cup (125 mL)
|
2.0–3.4
|
Grain products
footnote 3
|
|
Serving size
|
Iron (mg)
|
Cereal, dry
|
30 g (check label for serving size)
|
4.0–4.3
|
Oatmeal (instant), cooked
|
¾ cup (175 mL)
|
4.5–6.6
|
Pasta, egg noodles, enriched, cooked
|
½ cup (125 mL)
|
1.3
|
References
Citations
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Health Canada (2005). Dietary reference intakes: Reference values for elements. Available online: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/reference/table/ref_elements_tbl-eng.php.
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Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine (2011). Dietary reference intakes (DRIs): Recommended dietary allowances and adequate intakes, elements. Available online: http://iom.edu/Activities/Nutrition/SummaryDRIs/~/media/Files/Activity%20Files/Nutrition/DRIs/New%20Material/2_%20RDA%20and%20AI%20Values_Vitamin%20and%20Elements.pdf.
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Health Canada (2008). Nutrient value of some common foods. Ottawa: Health Canada. Also available online: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/fiche-nutri-data/nutrient_value-valeurs_nutritives-eng.php.
Credits
ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerKathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical ReviewerRhonda O'Brien, MS, RD, CDE - Certified Diabetes Educator
Colleen O'Connor, PhD, RD - Registered Dietitian
Current as ofMarch 29, 2018
Current as of: March 29, 2018
Health Canada (2005). Dietary reference intakes: Reference values for elements. Available online: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/reference/table/ref_elements_tbl-eng.php.
Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine (2011). Dietary reference intakes (DRIs): Recommended dietary allowances and adequate intakes, elements. Available online: http://iom.edu/Activities/Nutrition/SummaryDRIs/~/media/Files/Activity%20Files/Nutrition/DRIs/New%20Material/2_%20RDA%20and%20AI%20Values_Vitamin%20and%20Elements.pdf.
Health Canada (2008). Nutrient value of some common foods. Ottawa: Health Canada. Also available online: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/fiche-nutri-data/nutrient_value-valeurs_nutritives-eng.php.
