"Things You Wouldn't Know If We Didn't Blog Intermittently."
08 June 2009
Iron-fortified cereal contains iron... particles!
Well done (except for misspelling "coarse" at the end), interesting, and somewhat unexpected. Some of you will want to locate your keyboard's "mute" button...
I believe I have always assumed that the "iron" in such food items was organic iron, not metallic. I wonder if the "%RDA" on the label reflects the small proportion of such particulate metal one would normally absorb, or the gross metal content.
Just curious: can you explain what the difference between 'organic' iron and 'metallic' iron would be? All iron is a base element, and is metallic by nature.
Our bodies naturally contain many minerals, as does the foods we eat. Those minerals are required for proper biological function. Of course, I know you know that :)
organic iron would be bound up in an organic (carbon containing) molecule which would change its properties...for example many oxides of iron are nonmagnetic.
Of course all iron is metallic and inorganic. I was speaking colloquially of iron being incorporated into organic material at a microscopic/atomic level. Think of red blood cells which contain iron in hemoglobin. Or meats that have iron in their myoglobin. It's part of the molecule, and easily handled by the human digestive system (if the body wants it).
By contrast, the iron in this cereal was particulate and macroscopic. I didn't describe it very precisely in my offhand observation; should perhaps have said "crystalline" (but they may not be crystals...) or something rather than "metallic."
If someone can come up with a crisp, concise alternative I'll substitute it in the post.
The differences are ionic vs. non-ionic I believe. For example elemental sodium is explosively reactive with water and not found much in nature. Sodium chloride (the sodium is ionic) is everywhere. Usually the body needs ionic iron from what I remember in physio class
I think the person who made this video probably has a point, it would explain how people eating these cereals still end up anaemic. Iron fortified cereals are no substitute for proper iron supplements, how our mothers and grandmothers coped before they were available is a mystery to me.
Just curious: can you explain what the difference between 'organic' iron and 'metallic' iron would be? All iron is a base element, and is metallic by nature.
ReplyDeleteOur bodies naturally contain many minerals, as does the foods we eat. Those minerals are required for proper biological function. Of course, I know you know that :)
organic iron would be bound up in an organic (carbon containing) molecule which would change its properties...for example many oxides of iron are nonmagnetic.
ReplyDeleteOf course all iron is metallic and inorganic. I was speaking colloquially of iron being incorporated into organic material at a microscopic/atomic level. Think of red blood cells which contain iron in hemoglobin. Or meats that have iron in their myoglobin. It's part of the molecule, and easily handled by the human digestive system (if the body wants it).
ReplyDeleteBy contrast, the iron in this cereal was particulate and macroscopic. I didn't describe it very precisely in my offhand observation; should perhaps have said "crystalline" (but they may not be crystals...) or something rather than "metallic."
If someone can come up with a crisp, concise alternative I'll substitute it in the post.
(linty was writing at the same time I was; my reply was to Mike.)
ReplyDeleteElementary my dear Minnesotastan. Elementary... :)
ReplyDeletehttp://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/iron.asp#h2
ReplyDeleteMore
The differences are ionic vs. non-ionic I believe. For example elemental sodium is explosively reactive with water and not found much in nature. Sodium chloride (the sodium is ionic) is everywhere. Usually the body needs ionic iron from what I remember in physio class
I think the person who made this video probably has a point, it would explain how people eating these cereals still end up anaemic. Iron fortified cereals are no substitute for proper iron supplements, how our mothers and grandmothers coped before they were available is a mystery to me.
ReplyDelete