A recent study in our Chemistry classed looked into some of the elements on the periodic table that are essential to our diet.  Vitamins and minerals, as well as different compounds of elements like folic acid, niacin, etc.  One element we looked at was iron.  Students researched the role iron plays in our bodies and found it is critical in a number of biochemical processes, but is essential in binding oxygen to our blood cells, which then transport it throughout all of the tissues in our body.

            Students also learned that the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for iron is about 10 milligrams for men and about 15 milligrams for women.  The food and drug administration use a weighted measure of iron as the RDA and do not specify what form a given supplement must be in.  Students learn that Iron in the ionic form for example, something like Iron phosphate, is readily absorbed in our intestines and can be utilized for the roles it plays in our bodies.  Elemental iron is not an ion and is very difficult to absorb in our system.  Elemental iron and iron compounds do not cost the same to manufacture and in order to save money some food companies add the elemental form (sometimes up to 3 milligrams) of iron to their cereal recipes in order to offset some of the cost.  This iron is not useful to us and it can accumulate in our bodies until ultimately it is passed through having not contributed to our overall health in any way. 

Below is the amount of elemental iron we isolated from three quarters of a box of Total Ò cereal.