A Study of Iron Metabolism with Preschool Children

Abstract

An iron balance study was conducted for 15 days with six normal children, ages ranging from 4 to 6 years and weights from 17.1 to 19.3 kg. Iron retentions varied from 0.01 to 0.15 mg. per kilogram with intakes of 0.55 to 0.64 mg. per kilogram, averages 0.07 and 0.59 mg., respectively. It is assumed that the availability of iron in foods may, in part, account for some of the differences found in the various reports upon the utilization of this mineral by young children.