Studies in Iron Absorption VI. Transitory Effect of Oral Administration of Iron on Iron Absorption

Iron absorption was studied before and after oral iron treatment in 5 groups of blood donors where the post-treatment absorption tests were performed at varying times after the end of therapy. The normalizing effect of oral iron on iron absorption is considerable 1 to 3 days after treatment has ended. Later, it rapidly diminishes. This correlates well with the short life span of the intestinal mucosal cells, and it is assumed that the transitory effect is caused by the iron content of these cells. When the cells loaded with iron by oral treatment die, the effect decreases. The iron content of the mucosal cells thus seems to play a part in the regulation of iron absorption.