Food MArketing & Technology In India Food Marketing & Technology In India Vol 10 | Page 24

Ingredient
IMPORTANCE OF MICROENCAPSULATION
TECHNOLOGY IN ERADICATING
CHALLENGING IRON DEFICIENCY
BY: SANJAY SINGH *
I
ron is one of the most discussed
mineral elements in society. Most
of the population is Iron deficient
especially women.
Life and Iron are inseparable. Except
for lactic acid bacteria, all living beings
require Iron as an essential element
for growth and multiplication. Iron
deficiency is the most common global
nutritional problem.
Further Iron is the most abundant trace
mineral in the body. The average adult
body contains about 5g of it bound
with protein. Iron is indispensable for
the production of Haemoglobin, the
red pigment in the red blood cells,
which transports and makes available
Oxygen to every cell in the body. In
absence of Iron the body cells will
suffocate and die. It promotes energy;
releases fatigue; prevents anaemia and
increases the immunity power of body.
However, Iron absorption can be
problematic. Only about 8 percent
of ingested Iron is absorbed and
assimilated by the body. For proper
absorption Iron needs adequate
stomach acid, a deficiency of it is
common in the elderly population.
While protein, copper, calcium and
vitamin C, B6, B12 and Vitamin E
are also needed for optimal Iron
absorption. Out of all Vitamin C is of
significant importance. Organic forms
of Iron are most easily assimilable in
the body such as Ferrous Succinate or
Ferrous Gluconate. Inorganic salts such
as Ferrous Sulfate destroys Vitamin
E. Natural Iron syrups and Iron fed
brewer’s yeast are good sources of Iron
with high degrees of bioavailability.
lose much more due to pregnancy,
menstruation, etc. Women, Children
and Elderly are most vulnerable
to Iron deficiency. Among the best
natural sources of Iron are liver, raw
clams, oatmeal, prunes, egg yolks,
brewers yeast, green leafy vegetables.
Sprouted moong with lemon juice
is a very effective addition of the
shredded goose berry (amla) and
will increase its absorption potency
many fold. Cooking food particularly
vegetable gravy in Mild Steel Iron
brings lots of Iron to the body with
fairly good bio-availability.
Recommended daily dose for Iron is
10mg and 15 mg respectively by men
and women however the requirement
increases substantially sometimes due
to different factors like the energy
consumption, active or non-active
lifestyle, and the list goes on.
Anaemia is a serious health problem
for all humans particularly for ladies.
It is a disorder associated largely with
Iron deficiency an it is far more severe
in India. In our country it has been
recognized as a serious public health
problem affecting 50 to 70 percent of
the population especially in infants
Small losses of Iron are normal,
men lose 1mg/day while women
Food Marketing & Technology
24
August 2019
and young children women of child
bearing age and pregnant women.
A recent survey done by NNMB in
India showed that up to 24.3 percent
in men aged more than 20 years
suffer from Anaemia. Even the higher
income group is victim of wide spread
anaemia. Given below is the current
scenario of anaemia in India.
Considering the above facts Iron
supplementation by the way of food
fortification is the most important
endeavour for any Government that
ensures good health to the masses. It
may be achieved by doing either staple
food fortification or by supplying Iron
tablets free of cost to the affected age
group and gender of total population.
However, it is a challenging task.
It calls for selection of right Iron
salt which is the most bio-available,
offering the least metallic taste to
food and yet economical. A few key
challenges with said aspects for Iron
salts are listed below.
1. Free Ionic Iron hardly exists in body.
2. Iron is very unique with respect to
its absorption dynamics
3. No mechanism exists for excretion
of excess absorbed Iron from the
body. Precise mechanism and
control of Iron is not very clear.
4. Duodenum is the main site for Iron
absorption.
5. Due to multiplicity of factors
affecting Iron absorption, it is not