The effect of food consistency on iron absorption.
Iron absorption and the half-time of gastric emptying were measured concurrently in 13 normal volunteer subjects. Each subject ate two test meals of identical composition; one meal was prepared and served in the usual manner while the second was homogenized before serving. No correlation was found between the half-time of gastric emptying and the absorption of either heme or nonheme iron among subjects eating the conventional meal. Homogenization of the meal led to a 31% fall in the mean half-time of gastric emptying and an increase in iron absorption of 22% for nonheme and 42% for heme. These findings indicate that the physical form of a meal has a modest effect on iron absorption.
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005502:Food; D005746:Gastric Emptying; D006418:Heme / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors
D006418:Heme; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron