Biomarkers and the Complexities of Iron Deficiency

According to the World Health Organization, anemia affects at least 50% of women of reproductive age, most prevalently in South Asia and West Africa, and about half of these cases are attributable to iron deficiency (Stevens et al. 2013). Within these developing regions, plant-based energy sources dominate dietary patterns (FAO 2016), with pulses, roots and tubers, cereals, wheat, and rice among the primary commodities.

For the past decade it has been evident that biomarkers, including iron, tran…