Iron is a key element in nutrition. It has a central role in energy metabolism of living cells and iron deficiency anaemia is one of the world's most common nutritional deficiency diseases. The Iron Task Force is a committee of acknowledged experts in the field of iron biochemistry and metabolism. The members were invited by the British Nutrition Foundation to review the current state of knowledge of the nutritional and physiological significance of this most important element. Iron: Nutritional and physiological significance is a thorough review of the subject by experts.