4727.0.55.005 - Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey: Nutrition Results - Food and Nutrients, 2012-13  
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IRON

Iron is a mineral essential for the oxygen carrying ability of red blood cells. Meat, fish, poultry and wholegrain cereals are common sources of iron.1

The average iron intake for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from food and beverages was 10mg per day, an average iron intake of 1.3mg per 1,000 kJ of energy. Intakes were the same for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males and females.

The major food groups contributing to iron intake were: Cereals and cereal products (32%, including 17% from Breakfast cereals, ready to eat and 13% from Regular breads, and rolls), Meat, poultry and game products and dishes (22%) and Cereal based products and dishes (15%) (see Table 10.57).

Iron Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) and mean daily intake, by age

Age (years)
EAR (mg)(a)
Mean intake (mg)(b)
MalesFemalesMalesFemales
2-3 4.04.08.58.2
4-8 4.04.010.39.3
9-136.06.012.79.8
14-188.08.012.79.0
19-30 6.08.012.29.0
31-506.08.012.28.3
51 and over6.05.010.58.8
    Source:
    (a) National Health and Medical Research Council 2006, Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand, Canberra: National Health and Medical Research Council, < http://www.nrv.gov.au/nutrients/iron>
    (b) Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey: Nutrition Results - Food and Nutrients, 2012-13

Was there a difference by remoteness?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in non-remote and remote areas had similar average daily iron intakes (1.3mg and 1.5mg respectively).

How did this compare with non-Indigenous people?

The average daily iron intake for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous people was similar (10mg and 11mg respectively). Both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous people had an average iron intake of 1.3mg per 1,000 kJ of energy (see Table 3.1 and Table 3.3).

Note that several iron biomarkers were collected as part of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Measures Survey. See the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey: Users' Guide, 2012-13, Iron Biomarkers.

ENDNOTES

1. National Health and Medical Research Council 2006, Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand, Canberra: National Health and Medical Research Council,<http://www.nrv.gov.au/nutrients/iron>, Last accessed 20/02/2015.