Effect of Transferrin Saturation on Iron Absorption in Man

IN a previous report1 data were presented indicating that the level of transferrin saturation was not important in regulating iron absorption from the gastrointestinal tract during short-term experiments. These data conflicted with other reports, which concluded that the level of transferrin saturation played a major part in regulating iron absorption.2 3 4 The latter studies were based on serial isotopic analysis of peripheral blood after ingestion of radioactive iron, thus entailing the assumption that peripheral blood radioactivity accurately reflected portal blood radioactivity, even when high levels of transferrin saturation were achieved. This assumption was shown to be false by our studies utilizing . . .