Recommended Dietary Allowances for iron

The daily recommended dietary allowance for iron is 8 mg in adult males and postmenopausal females, and 18 mg in menstruating females. Children require more iron due to growth-related increases in blood volume, and pregnant women have an increased iron demand brought about by fetal development. However, iron overload does not occur, as only the amount of iron lost per day is absorbed. The amount of iron absorbed from food depends on the body stores, the rate of RBC production, the type of iron provided in the diet, and the presence of any substances that may enhance or inhibit iron absorption. 

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