IRON
Overview
CAS number
7439-89-6
Functional Class
Food Contaminant
METALS
METALS
Evaluations
Evaluation year: 1983
Comments:
For iron oxides and ferric hydroxide (substances which are virtually non-absorbable sources of iron), there is a wide margin of safety between the amounts of nutritionally required iron and levels of this form of iron that may contaminate food. In the case of ionisable salts, iron from ferric salts is less well absorbed than from ferrous salts (approximately two- to threefold), and could be tolerated at higher levels. The provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) for man [0.8] mg/kg bw/d, which applies to iron from all sources except for iron oxides used as colouring agents, supplemental iron taken during pregnancy and lactation, and supplemental iron for specific clinical requirements
Intake:
Average daily intake: 17 mg/d (males, age 20-34) & 9-12 mg/day (females). Iron fortification of cereal products (U.S.) could increase daily intake to up to 5 mg/day (males) & 1 mg/day (females). In countries with high levels iron contamination of food:
500 mg/day in the form of oxides and hydroxides.
Tolerable Intake:
PMTDI: 0.8 mg/kg bw/d, for all sources except for iron oxide colouring agents, supplemental iron for pregnancy and lactation, and supplemental iron for specific clinical requirements
Meeting:
27
Report:
Tox Monograph:
Toxicological study
Pivotal Study:
Opinion of the American Medical Association Committee on Iron Deficiency (JAMA, 1972): "The recommendation that the general diet be fortified to further increase its iron content while improving iron balance in women raises the possible risk of excessive iron intake in men. Since iron intake parallels caloric intake, physically active men who need iron least will take in the most. Adequate information is not at present available on the hazard of iron overload, but it seems likely that a dietary iron intake of 50 mg/day in a normal man, which might result from the provision of a 20-mg daily iron intake for women, would be well tolerated." The JECFA Committee then converted the intake value to mg/kg/d using a standard bodyweight value of 60 kg.
Animal Specie:
Human
Effect:
not specified
PMTDI:
0.8 mg/kg bw/d, for all sources except for iron oxide colouring agents, supplemental iron for pregnancy and lactation, and supplemental iron for specific clinical requirement
Point of departure:
None