Iron Deficiency in Healthy Young College Women

Abstract

The iron stores of 114 white college women who had never experienced abnormal bleeding nor been pregnant were evaluated using marrow stainable iron and in some instances quantitative phlebotomy. Even though the subjects were somewhat privileged socioeconomically, iron stores were scant to absent in two thirds of them. After being made anemic by repeated phlebotomy, the anemia was corrected at a very slow rate by iron absorbed from their diet. Consequently iron in an effective dose and form should be administered to women who have anemia and iron deficiency or who are hemorrhaging.