No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Eight laboratories conducted a test for the estimation of the bioavailability of iron from 4 sources, using depleted male albino rats. Ferrous sulfate was used as the reference standard. Ferric orthophosphate was found to have a relative biological value of 11 (range 6–22), an old sample of hydrogen-reduced iron 27 (range 15–41), and ferric citrate 96 (range 75–125). Good results were obtained with a simplified basal diet prepared without ingredients that had previously contributed variable quantities of iron. There was no apparent advantage in using the change in hemoglobin during the repletion period instead of the final homoglobin value as the criterion of response to iron supplements. Several statistical treatments of the data yielded similar conclusions regarding relative biological values of the iron sources.

The high incidence of iron deficiency anemia in the United States and elsewhere is caused by insufficient iron intake, plus poor utilization of many dietary sources of iron. There is need to select assimilable sources of iron for fortification of foods; animal studies show that many of the iron compounds used for cereal enrichment are poorly utilized. A method to measure availability of iron is proposed and is currently being studied collaboratively. Preliminary data indicate that in vitro solubility tests are not satisfactory to evaluate availability of iron supplements.