Iron absorption from human milk, simulated human milk, and proprietary formulas

Extract: Adults were fed 100 ml of human milk, simulated human milk, simulated human milk containing added lactoferrin, two commercial formulas containing iron, 12 mg/qt., and human milk that had been boiled. Percent iron absorption was highest from human milk and lowest from the commercial formulas. This study confirms the unique ability of human milk to promote iron absorption. Simple manipulation of the protein, fat, lactose, calcium, phosphorus, or lactoferrin content of proprietary milk did not reproduce the iron absorption demonstrated with human milk.