Influence of dietary iron on the development of diseases of alimentary genesis
Authors: Matasar Ignat , Petryshchenko Ludmila , Chernyshov Andrii 
Published: January 2025

The main task of modern medicine is the development and implementation of effective large-scale programs aimed at optimizing the qualitative and quantitative composition of food rations. Modern environmental conditions (pollution of soils with pesticides, heavy metals, radionuclides, etc.) require constant control and correction of the plastic, energetic and catalytic components of food. Iron, as a food ingredient, is an important component of energy metabolism, synthesis of nucleic acids
and cell proliferation.
To prevent iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) of alimentary origin, it is necessary to quickly and effectively replenish the losses and reserves of iron in the body, which is possible with a timely increase in the supply of this trace element with food.
The most rational ways to prevent IDA of alimentary genesis can be substantiated dietary recommendations that take into account a sufficient variety of nutrition, the use of animal products, and substances that increase the assimilation of iron.
Aim. To evaluate the supply of iron to residents of radioactively contaminated territories of Ukraine and to establish the impact of the latter on the development of diseases of alimentary origin.
Materials and Methods. In order to assess the supply of iron to the population of the territories affected by the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP) and to determine its impact on morbidity and mortality, a cohort
of people of working age (men and women aged 18–29, 30–39, 40–60 years old at the time of the accident at the ChNPP), who live in ecologically dangerous areas of Zhytomyr region, was analyzed.
The source of initial information for epidemiological research and analysis was own observations and data from the Ukrainian Center for Information Technologies and the National Register of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. The total cohort consisted of 163,047 people of both sexes, including: men – 72,654 or 44.6%, women – 90,393 or 55.4%.
To achieve the goal, the following methods were used: bibliosemantic; theoretical analysis of the generalization of data on the problem of health and nutrition of the population living in disadvantaged regions of Ukraine; mathematical statistics.
Results. Between 60 and 65% of the population living in areas radioactively contaminated by the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant are diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia.
The primary cause of the lack of essential substances, including iron, in food is a decrease (by 2.0–2.5 times) in energy expenditure and a decrease in the volume of food consumed. In addition, the impetus for the deformation of the relationship between
essential substances in the diet is the increase in the use of technologically processed and anthropogenically contaminated products.
Our research established that the nutrition of both men and women did not meet the recommended values. Thus, the diets of men of different groups of labor intensity were the most deficient in the content of meat and meat products – up to 55%, fish and fish products – up to 72%, milk and milk products – up to 57%, fruits – up to 58%. At the same time, they consumed a surplus of bread, legumes, cereals, lard, potatoes, sour cream, and eggs.
The most unbalanced was the nutrition of women. Thus, the shortage of bread and bakery products was 41.4%, meat and meat products – 63.9%, milk and milk products – up to 40.0%, vegetables – up to 25.5%, hard cheese – up to 80.0 % of the
recommended values. At the same time, women consumed an excess of cereals, eggs, potatoes and confectionery.
The content of iron in the diets of men, regardless of physical exertion, exceeded the recommended values from 12.0 to 28.0%.
At the same time, the lack of iron in women's diets amounted to 13.2–34.0%.
Conclusions. The use of international models for the prevention of iron-deficiency conditions among the population living in the territories of Ukraine affected by the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant requires information on reliable estimates and a list of demographic data, life expectancy, incidence of malignant neoplasms, and mortality from all causes.
Keywords: dietary iron, heme iron, iron-deficiency anemia, prevention, population of ecologically dangerous regions, accident at Chornobyl NPP.