 Targeted iron supplementation in high risk groups is the preferred way to treat iron deficiency. However, the recommendation is to consume iron supplements away from food in order to increase bioavailability which often causes nausea and epigastric pain and thus reduces compliance. Taken together with food, bioavailability of most supplements is reduced by about two thirds. Thus, a lot of unabsorbed iron passes into the colon where it can increase the abundance of enteropathogens. 