Absorption of Hemoglobin Iron by the Rat

Abstract

In the rat the absorption of a test dose of hemoglobin or hemin iron59 was significantly less than a comparable dose of iron59 as FeSO4. That this is of physiologic significance was demonstrated by producing a state of iron deficiency in animals raised on a diet with hemoglobin as the only source of iron, These findings are in contrast to recent observations in man and suggest a difference between species as well as a difference in the epithelial cells”ability to sequester iron as the salt or in the heme ring.