IRON ABSORPTION IN APPARENTLY HEALTHY MEN AND WOMEN

Abstract

Abstract Thirty‐three women and 24 men, all apparently healthy, have been investigated in respect of iron absorption by means of radioactive iron and a whole body counter. Six out of 33 women had either a somewhat low serum iron concentration or a high TIBC; and in nearly 40% of them absorption exceeded the upper limit for the men. The mean absorption of the women was about double that of the men. No correlation could be shown to exist between absorption on the one hand and hemoglobin, packed cell volume, serum iron and TIBC on the other.