Abstract

Although physiological increases in demand, regular menstruation and poor nutrition are the causative factors of iron deficiency. It is still among the most prevalent nutritional disorders in women of reproductive age. The interactive relationship between the dietary iron intake, its absorption, and physiological utilization are of paramount concern in the adoption of effective nutritional and social health intervention strategies. System modelling of iron metabolism and food intake in reproductive age women on the basis of biological processes and food intake habits will be subject to the analysis of how changes in iron intake will have effects on the body's iron status with time. The model considers the iron metabolism as a dynamic system which consists of multiple interrelated compartments that include, among others, food intake, intestinal absorption, circulation of iron, storage pools (ferritin in the liver and spleen), and physiological losses. External factors considered by the model include daily dietary intake of iron, bioavailability of the sources of heme and non-heme iron, and the action of absorption factors and inhibitors (ex, vitamin C, phytates, and polyphenols). The system model uses nutrition data that is characteristic of reproductive-age females and considers the differences in dietary habits, menstrual blood loss, and energy needs to reproduce real-life food behaviors. The model involves the application of computational modelling in predicting changes in serum ferritin, hemoglobin levels, and the total iron reserves in different situations of dietary intake. These results indicate that despite the little changes in the quantity of bioavailable iron intake, a depletion of iron stores over time can be catastrophic, particularly in women with greater menstrual losses or less diversified diets.