A fast meal can relieve hunger, but there is a deeper issue of hidden hunger which occurs when the body lacks vital micronutrients and can be fulfilled by nutritionally enriched food. Plants produce the majority of nutrients present in the human diet, but most of the food crops are deficient in certain essential micronutrients. One such disorder caused by micronutrient is iron deficiency anaemia, which occurs when dietary iron intake is inadequate to satisfy iron needs over time, especially during periods of rapid growth and development. It is the most common and prevalent dietary disease in the world, affecting about 20% of the global population. To combat this deficiency, and improve the nutritional profile of staple foods in recent time’s biofortification and fortification has been described as a promising approach. Biofortification refers to enrichment of micronutrients in cultivars during the germination and growth process, while Fortification is the actual mixing of iron with staple foods. Research on population are also being conducted using fortified foods and biofortified cereals which showed positive results in terms of enhancing the nutritional status of the participants in the study. This review also highlights about the mechanism of iron absorption, pathophysiology of (IDA) Iron deficiency anaemia and strategies involved in biofortification and fortification to overcome iron deficiency anaemia.

Anaemia, Iron Deficiency, Biofortification, Fortification, Malnutrition