Iron absorption in normal subjects and patients with idiopathic haemochromatosis: relationship with serum ferritin concentration

Abstract

In 52 normal subjects there was an inverse relation between serum ferritin concentration and iron absorption. In 21 measurements in 15 patients with idiopathic haemochromatosis there was a similar inverse relation but absorption was higher in relation to iron stores at all levels. Haemochromatotic patients with normal serum ferritin levels and abnormally high values for desferrioxamine chelatable iron and there was no correlation between chelatable iron and iron absorption.