Validation of the clinical approach of using the induced serum iron increase after 1 h as a measure of iron absorption

Background & aims To evaluate the correlation between the iron absorption and the induced increase in serum iron concentration (S–Fe) after 1 h. Methods Eleven subjects were after an over night fast served a wheat roll fortified with 100-mg iron as ferrous sulfate labelled with radio iron. The S–Fe response and the iron absorption measured by whole body counting, were studied. Results There was a significant correlation between the iron absorption and the S–Fe increase (R2=0.75, P<0.001). Conclusion This short and valid observation period proposes the S–Fe procedure as an uncomplicated and clinically applicable tool when evaluating the iron absorption capacity of patients.