Private MD News

Iron-fortified orange juice may be effective treatment for anemia

Category: Blood and Blood Diseases

Iron deficiency anemia affects a large portion of the U.S. and worldwide population, and it can have a tremendous impact on an individual's quality of life. However, for those who have received low iron blood test results, fortified orange juice may be an effective treatment for the condition, according to a new study published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

Iron fortification has been seen as an attractive approach to solving deficiency, but the nutrient can be difficult to effectively add to foods. Therefore, it is not a common practice among most food suppliers. However, the new studies show that adding iron to orange juice may be a feasible option.

For the study, researchers gave 122 women either orange juice fortified with iron or standard juice for a period of 16 weeks. By the end of the study, iron blood testing showed that those who were given the fortified juice had 80 percent higher levels of the nutrient.

The researchers said that their findings provide compelling evidence that it may be possible to add iron to more foods, which could lead to significant improvements in the nutritional status of millions of people in the U.S.