A Study of the Iron Metabolism of Normal Women

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Abstract
Iron balances are presented on three normal women for six periods totaling 56 experimental days. On self-chosen diets containing liberal amounts of protein, calories and protective elements, the average daily amount of iron ingested was 13.78 mg. The average daily iron excretion for all periods was 14.95 mg. Two periods of positive iron balance were recorded for subject A. Subjects B and C were both in negative iron balance as was subject A for the third period of study. Negative iron balances were associated with increased fecal nitrogen. No relationship was observed between iron retention and the iron losses of menstruation or between the balance of nitrogen or copper and the balance of iron. Totals of 18.16, 25.68, 32.35 and 41.90 mg. of iron, respectively, were lost in the menstrual hemorrhage during each of four periods. The copper to iron ratios of the ingested food ranged from 1 to 12 to 1 to 17. Copper was excreted through the stool.

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