The Absorption of Radioactive Iron by Children 7–10 Years of Age

Determinations of iron absorption on 176 school children, aged 7–10 years, have indicated a mean uptake of 7.75 to 17.75% of a test dose of 2–3 mg of ferrous iron. The median intakes were slightly lower. The uptake was found to be correlated with the estimated yearly increases of body iron during growth; it was not correlated in these children with other factors tested for, such as economic status of the group, dietary intake as estimated, the hemoglobin level, or general nutritive state. A new method for the calculation of iron requirements is outlined. It is estimated from these data that the mean daily requirement of absorbable iron is 2.3–3.8 mg for children of this age group. It appears that the mean level of approximately 13 gm of hemoglobin in these children was not limited by iron deficiency.