Iron Absorption and Variations of Iron Status, Hepcidin, Inflammation and Sex Hormones During the Menstrual Cycle

Inclusion Criteria: * Female, 18-30 years old * Weight \<70 kg * Normal body mass index (18.5 - 25kg/m2) * Regular menstrual cycle (self-reported cycle length between 28 and 35 days in the past 6 months) * Depleted iron stores (serum ferritin ≤ 30 µg/L) * Signed informed consent * Able to read and understand English Exclusion Criteria: * Use of hormonal contraceptives within a 3-month recall period * Anemia (hemoglobin \< 117 g/L) * Any known major metabolic, gastrointestinal, kidney or chronic disease such as diabetes, renal failure, hepatic dysfunction, hepatitis, hypertension, cancer, or cardiovascular diseases (according to the participants own statement) * Women with severe menstrual cramps that would prevent them from attending study meetings during menstruation (judged by the women) * Consumption of iron-containing supplements within 1 month prior to the start of study * Known difficulties with blood sampling * Pregnancy (serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) \< 5 mIU/mL) * Current smoking (\>1 cigarette per week over a 1-month recall period) * Women who are planning to get pregnant within the study period, as this would affect iron metabolism and subsequent study measurements. * Inability to follow the study protocol