Duodenal ferritin content and structure: relationship with body iron stores in man

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Abstract
The relationship between serum ferritin and duodenal ferritin was examined in normal subjects and in patients with Fe deficiency, secondary Fe overload or idiopathic hemochromatosis (IHC). A positive correlation between serum ferritin and duodenal ferritin concentrations was found in all groups. In the Fe-overload conditions, duodenal ferritin concentration was lower at all levels of serum ferritin in comparison with normal and Fe-deficient subjects. Patients with secondary Fe overload did not differ from those with IHC, which indicates that any decrease in duodenal ferritin concentration was secondary to the excess body Fe stores. Purified duodenal ferritin from normal subjects and patients with Fe-overload conditions showed the same 2 distinct isoferritins by isoelectric focusing. After the oral administration of Fe, 2 additional isoferritins were detected. These resembled the major isoferritins of liver.