Absorption of iron from a plant-derived source of heme iron (soybean-leghemoglobin) was compared with absorption of mineral iron and with iron from animal blood. Each of the iron sources was mixed with a cereal-bean diet high in phytate, an indicator of iron absorption. Heme iron was intrisically labelled with either 59Fe or 55Fe, and mineral iron-containing diets were extrinsically labelled with iron radio isotopes. Six rhesus monkeys were intubated for administration of the labelled iron-containing diets, and incorporation of iron into circulating red cells was measured two weeks after administration of the test meals. Analyses of isotopes incorporated in blood are currently in progress. *KEY*Iron absorption, Iron deficiency, Heme iron
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