The Relationship Between Duodenal Mucosal Iron Concentration and Iron Absorption in Human Subjects

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Non‐haem iron concentrations of duodenal mucosa obtained by peroral capsule biopsy were determined in normal, iron‐deficient, and iron‐overloaded human subjects. Intestinal iron concentrations of normal subjects did not differ significantly from those of the iron‐deficient or iron‐overloaded subjects. No significant variation could be detected in iron concentration of mucosa obtained from different anatomical segments of duodenums removed at autopsy. Intestinal non‐haem iron concentrations showed no significant correlation with simultaneous measurements of serum iron concentration nor with radioiron absorption in a group of 25 patients (including normal, iron‐deficient, and iron‐overloaded subjects). Radioiron absorption was significantly correlated with severity of anaemia but not with serum iron concentration or per cent transferrin saturation.Failure to confirm previous studies in animals suggests that species differences exist in the regulation of gastrointestinal iron absorption and points up the need for additional studies of the control of iron absorption in man.
Keywords