Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation and Fractional Iron Absorption in Obese South African Women

In South Africa the prevalence of obesity in women of reproductive age is high; these women also have a high risk for iron deficiency (ID). Obesity is associated with low-grade systemic inflammation, which was shown to increase the expression of hepcidin, leading to a reduction in duodenal iron absorption. Thus, alleviating the sub-clinical inflammation associated with obesity could improve iron absorption and status. Supplementation with n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) has been shown to reduce inflammation in obese individuals. A stable iron isotope study will be performed to investigate the effect of n-3 LCPUFA supplementation on fractional iron absorption in obese South African women.