Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies among women of reproductive age. Women in this life stage have increased iron requirements due to regular menstrual losses and potential pregnancies. Iron status is also influenced by dietary
patterns, such as vegetarian and vegan diets, as well as socioeconomic factors. The aim of this master’s thesis was to evaluate dietary iron intake among women of reproductive age
in Slovenia, to determine the proportion of women whose intake does not meet recommendations, and to analyse the association between dietary patterns, iron intake, and
indicators of iron status. The first phase of the NutriFem study included 166 women aged 20–49 years. Dietary intake of energy and selected nutrients was assessed using two 24
hour dietary recalls, and iron status was evaluated by measuring haemoglobin concentration and serum ferritin levels. Most omnivorous participants and vegetarians did not meet the recommended daily iron intake, whereas vegans had a higher average intake, although exclusively in the non-haem form. Haemoglobin concentrations were within reference ranges for the majority of participants, while low iron stores were more common,
particularly among those with low dietary iron intake. The results indicate a trend towards an association between low dietary iron intake and a higher prevalence of low haemoglobin
concentration. However, due to the small number of cases, this association could not be reliably assessed statistically. The findings suggest that low dietary iron intake is more
strongly associated with reduced iron stores, whereas haemoglobin concentration may remain unchanged or within the reference range.
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