The Influence of Amino Acids on Iron Absorption

A series of experiments were devised to determine the effect of various amino acids upon the absorption of iron from the gastrointestinal tract. This was done by introducing single amino acids and Fe⁵⁹ into isolated loops of small intestine and measuring the serum for radioactivity and the uptake of Fe⁵⁹ by the liver. It was found that under the conditions of the experiments all of the amino acids studied effected an increase in the serum iron and iron deposition in the liver.