What is the daily requirement of iron?

The daily iron requirement varies by age, sex, and life stage. For adult men, it is typically around 8 mg, while women aged 19-50 require about 18 mg due to menstrual losses; this requirement decreases to 8 mg after menopause. Pregnant women need significantly more, around 27 mg per day, to support fetal development. It's important to obtain iron from dietary sources, such as red meat, beans, and fortified cereals, or supplements if necessary.