Uptake and excretion of iron by healthy elderly subjects.

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Abstract
Metabolic balance studies for Fe were carried out on 24 apparently healthy elderly people (11 men and 13 women) aged 69.7 to 85.5 yr living in their own homes and eating self-selected diets. Several biochemical and hematological indices of Fe state were also measured. The mean daily Fe intake was 176 .mu.mol, with a range of 55-321 .mu.mol. Eight women and 6 men consumed diets which provided less than the recommended daily dietary allowance for Fe of 179 .mu.mol/day. Mean daily retention of Fe, however, was -7 .mu.mol, a value which did not significantly differ from equilibrium. No sex difference was noted between any of the biochemical and hematological measurements. Mean values of Fe concentration, Fe binding capacity, Fe binding saturation, and ferritin and Hb concentrations were 20 .mu.mol/l, 59 .mu.mol/l, 34%, 77 .mu.g/l and 14.3 g/dl, respectively. In apparently healthy elderly people who are in equilibrium for Fe balance, several biochemical and hematological measurements of Fe state do not differ from the normal ranges established in younger adults.