Iron Absorption in Kwashiorkor

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Abstract
The absorption of ferric chloride, ferrous sulfate, and hemoglobin iron was studied in 16 infants suffering from kwashiorkor. Ferrous sulfate and hemoglobin iron were well absorbed in all but one subject. Ferric chloride absorption was consistently poor, being considerably improved by refeeding alone. The absorption of ferric chloride in untreated infants was also somewhat enhanced when given with normal gastric juice. These findings suggest that iron was absorbed adequately by the small bowel in the patients studied, but that some intraluminal factor required for the solubilization of ferric iron may have been lacking.