Question

The requirement of dietary iron is more in females than in males because

• A. They lose iron during menstruation.
• B. They have less bone marrow.
• C. They have large volume of blood.
• D. They generally eat less.

Answer 1

The correct option is A They lose iron during menstruation.

Iron is a mineral that works with other substances to create haemoglobin, the compound that carries oxygen in the blood. Women and men metabolise iron from food at roughly the same rate. However, while men need around 8 mg of iron in their daily diet, women need up to 18 mg (or 27 mg if pregnant).
Women need more iron than men to make up for the amount of iron they lose in their menstrual period. Around 1 mg of iron is lost for every day of bleeding.
Iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency in women. Insufficient iron can lead to anaemia. Common symptoms of anaemia include tiredness and breathlessness.