ABSTRACT
Iron is a vital mineral with multiple physiological functions in the body such as energy metabolism, DNA synthesis, and oxygen transport. Food fortification with iron has been a topic of research from time immemorial to circumvent the persistent problem of iron deficiency—anemia—across the globe. However, despite enormous efforts, the scientific and medical worlds have not been able to eradicate this mineral deficiency disease. Nanotechnology seems to be the most sought-after and pragmatic tool for alleviating the problem of malnutrition, staring particularly in the eyes of the developing nations. The current chapter deals with the role of iron in human body, its metabolism, deficiency (i.e., anemia), and overload, together with stellar applications of nanotechnology in preventing the same and methods of nanoencapsulation. The chapter culminates with food fortification techniques using the prepared nanoemulsions for enhancing the bioavailability of iron.
