ROLE OF TRANSFERRIN IN IRON ABSORPTION*

Abstract
During short-term experiments in rats and dogs, the level of transferrin saturation had no important role in the regulation of Fe absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. Most of the Fe absorbed when transferrin saturation was raised to over 60% in rats and 70% in dogs was deposited in liver and was not detected in peripheral blood. Portal infusion experiments using Fe59 suggested that the absorbed Fe was deposited in liver on the 1st circulation through the portal system.