The explanation â the true one (if ever found) â does matter. It may matter to future whales, potentially, especially if we learn that 52 Hertz (âAliceâ, as in Cooper) got the way s/he did because of us, because of something we humans were/are doing.
Because of this health risk with high iron intake, the Institute of Medicine has set a Tolerable Upper Intake Level, or UL, for iron. This is the highest amount of iron that can be taken daily with a low risk for developing overload. For males and females over 14 years old, the UL for iron is 45 milligrams per day.
To achieve iron balance, adult men need to absorb about 1 mg/day and adult menstruating women about 1.5 mg/day, although this is highly variable. Towards the end of pregnancy, the absorption of 4-5 mg/day is necessary. Requirements are higher during periods of rapid growth in early childhood and adolescence.