title: [The effect of iron on globin chain synthesis during the first six months of extrauterine life (author's transl)].
abstract: The mechanism regulating the formation of the globin-chains of hemoglobin is unknown. We have examined the formation of the alpha-, beta- and gamma-chains during the first 6 months in 10 healthy infants. Immediately after birth the ratio between rates of synthesis of alpha- and non-alpha-chains was 0.94 +/- 0.16. At 6 weeks the ratio was alpha/gamma + beta = 1.22 +/- 0.29. After oral therapy with iron (2 mg/kg) between ages 3 and 6 months the ratio alpha/gamma + beta became 0.92 +/- 0.14. Whether the imbalance at 6 weeks is due to a depression of alpha-chain synthesis or to a stimulation of gamma-chain and beta-chain synthesis remains unclear. Possibly in infants without iron therapy the gamma-chain synthesis is stimulated as was suggested by the comparison of the gamma/beta ratios in infants with and without iron therapy.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D005914:Globins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007501:Iron / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008433:Mathematics
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D005914:Globins; D007501:Iron
vernacular_title: Die Wirkung von Eisen auf die Globinkettensynthese des Hämoglobins während des ersten Lebenshalbjahres.