Which pairing correctly matches a common deficiency with a good dietary source?

• A. Vitamin D deficiency — citrus fruits
• B. Iron deficiency — red meat
• C. Iron deficiency — leafy greens
• D. Vitamin D deficiency — apples

Answer: (B)

Iron deficiency is common, and red meat provides iron in the form that the body can use most efficiently. This is heme iron, which is absorbed much more readily than the iron found in plants. That makes red meat a strong dietary source for boosting iron status. Leafy greens do contain iron, but it's non-heme iron and is less well absorbed, though absorption can be helped by pairing with vitamin C-rich foods. Vitamin D, meanwhile, isn’t found in citrus fruits or apples; it’s mainly found in fatty fish and fortified foods, with sun exposure aiding the body’s production. So the best pairing is iron deficiency with red meat because of the highly absorbable form of iron it provides.