title: Intake and dietary sources of haem and non-haem iron among European adolescents and their association with iron status and different lifestyle and socio-economic factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Adolescents are at risk of iron deficiency because of their high iron requirements. The aims of this study were: (1) to assess iron intake, its determinants and its most important food sources and; (2) to evaluate the relation of iron intake and status in European adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two non-consecutive 24-h recalls were completed by a computerised tool. The socio-demographic and socio-economic data were collected by a self-reported questionnaire. Weight and height were measured. A distinction was made between haem and non-haem iron.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total iron intake was significantly higher among boys (13.8 mg/day; n=1077) than girls (11.0 mg/day; n=1253). About 97.3% of the boys and 87.8% of the girls met the estimated average requirement, and 72.4% of the boys and 13.7% of the girls met the recommendation for bio-available iron intake. The ratio of haem/non-haem iron intake was lower for girls than boys. Meat (19.2; 76%) and bread and rolls (12.6;3.9%) contributed most to total and haem iron intake. Bread and rolls (13.8%) and meat (10.8%) contributed most to non-haem iron intake. Age, sex and body mass index were associated with iron intake. Only red blood cell concentration was significantly negatively associated with total, haem and non-haem iron intake.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Girls had lower iron intakes and ratio of haem/non-haem iron intake than boys. The main total iron and haem iron source was meat, while the main non-haem iron source was bread and rolls. Adolescent girls may be a group at risk for iron deficiency. Consequently, special attention and strategies are needed in order to improve iron intakes during adolescence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Surveillance, Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels, Belgium. stefanie.vandevijvere@wiv-isp.be
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vandevijvere
authors.forename: N
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authors.lastname: Michels
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authors.lastname: Verstraete
authors.forename: M
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authors.lastname: Ferrari
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authors.lastname: Leclercq
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authors.lastname: Cuenca-García
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authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grammatikaki
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authors.lastname: Manios
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authors.lastname: Gottrand
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authors.lastname: Valtueña
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authors.lastname: Santamaría
authors.forename: M
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authors.lastname: Kersting
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authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Gross
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: T
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authors.lastname: Mouratidou
authors.forename: K
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authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: A
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authors.lastname: Meirhaeghe
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dallongeville
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sjöström
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hallstrom
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kafatos
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Widhalm
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Molnar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Henauw
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Huybrechts
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D001939:Bread; D002648:Child; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006418:Heme / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D009043:Motor Activity; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D019266:Iron, Dietary; D006418:Heme