DURATION OF THE INHIBITORY EFFECT OF CALCIUM ON NONHEME IRON-ABSORPTION IN MAN

We investigated the duration of the inhibitory effect of calcium from milk and cheese (340 mg) in a breakfast meal on non-haem iron absorpti on from a hamburger meal eaten 2 or 4 h after the breakfast. The effec t of calcium on iron absorption was studied in 21 human subjects by us ing paired observations and a dual-radioisotope method (Fe-55 and Fe-5 9). No duration effect of calcium on iron absorption was observed in t his study. The present findings offer an opportunity for theoretical i mprovement of iron nutrition by a redistribution of the daily intake o f calcium to the meals with a minor iron content, i.e. breakfast and t he evening meal.