Iron absorption and pyrexia

ABSTRACT

An incidental finding led to a more detailed study of the effect of fever on iron absorption. The absorption of 59Fe-labelled ferrous ascorbate was measured by whole-body counting in nineteen malnourished Jamaican infants and young children. Tests were done at various stages of refeeding, and it was found that the presence of a febrile illness or the febrile response to diptheria-pertussis-tetanus immunisation profoundly depressed iron absorption. This effect was not related to the nutritional state of the patient. Recurrent minor febrile illnesses are common in this group of children and may contribute to the production of iron deficiency.(Summary)