Studies on Iron Absorption (Report 6)

Abstract

The diurnal variation of unsaturate iron binding capacity was remarkably recognized the curve gradually uprising from evening and reaching the highest peak at midnight. During the night the curve remained stable and then it went down by and by to the lowest level at noon. This tendency of unsaturate iron binding capacity was quite opposite to that of serum iron.The diurnal variation of total iron binding capacity showed a very slow wavy curve.When administered ferrum reductum was absorbed there was a remarkable moving of unsaturate iron binding capacity, i. e. when serum iron made a great rise unsaturate iron binding capacity went down sharply, and when the former made a great descent the latter went up. If the absorption of iron was controlled, the unsaturate iron binding capacity remained at the high level. Less variation of total iron binding capacity was recognized.Repeated administration of ferrum reductum could not move the high level of the unsaturate iron binding capacity.It might be said without doubt that such a great variation of the unsaturate iron binding capacity would be attributed to the administration of ferrum reductum.Total iron binding capacity, on the other hand, indicated less variation both in a normal case and in an iron absorption case, and the value of iron binding protein eras kept constant.β-globulin value in serum protein was always. parallel wih the diurnal variation of total iron binding capacity, and little changes were recognized in these curves by administering ferrum reductum.From the above observation, it is considered that the total iron binding capacity, iron binding protein and β-globulin have some constancy in their values.