Absorption of stable isotopes of iron, copper, and zinc during oral contraceptives use.

ABSTRACT

PIP: Absorption of iron, copper, and zinc was determined in 22 women (19-25 years old) from the difference between intake (regulated by testers) and fecal output of the stable isotopes Fe-58, Cu-65, and Zn-70, as measured by neutron activation analysis. Of the 22, 14 were using oral contraceptives (OCs) (1 sequential and the rest combined), and 8 were not. Absorption values did not differ significantly between the OC users and the nonusers. These data suggest that stable isotopes of elements offer promise as a means of measuring mineral absorption without the undesirable aspects of feeding radioactive materials to humans. Disadvantages include difficulty obtaining hardward, expense of radioactive isotopes, and requirement for additional radiochemical separations for zinc, and possibly other minerals.