........................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................................iv Table of contents ............................................................................................................................... v List of Tables ................................................................................................................................... vii List of Figures................................................................................................................................... ix List of Abbreviations and Acronyms .............................................................................................. xiv Chapter 1 General Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1 1.1 General introduction of iron ....................................................................................... 1 1.2 Intestinal iron absorption ............................................................................................ 5 1.3 Mechanism and regulation of intestinal iron absorption and dietary factors ............ 11 1.4 Current issue and problem ........................................................................................ 25 1.5 Research Objectives ................................................................................................. 27 1.6 Significance .............................................................................................................. 28 Chapter 2 Effect of FOS and other prebiotics on iron status in SD rat model ................................ 29 2.