Studies on Copper Metabolism

Abstract

Studies are described which deal with the metabolism of irons in swine made anemic by feeding a milk diet low in copper. Evidence is presented that in such animals there is (1) impaired ability to absorb irons from the gastro-instestinal tract; (2) incomplete mobilizations of irons from the tissues; and (3) inability to utilize parenterally administered irons for hemoglobin synsthesis evens when it is presented to the bone marrow in normal quantities.