Dietary iron and haematological status in normal subjects.

on a positive balance between intestinal absorption and loss from the body. Iron deficiency is a common cause of anaemia (Kilpatrick, 1961) and in women is often associated with high levels of menstrual blood loss (Jacobs and Butler, 1965). When menstrual loss is increased iron balance must be maintained either by a diet with a high iron content or by an increase in the proportion absorbed by the intestine. Iron deficiency in