The Effect of Achylia Gastrica on Iron Absorption*

Abstract

In view of the conflicting reports of the importance of gastric secretion in Fe absorption an investigation was made of the absorption of radioiron from a test meal of white bread of low Fe content in 9 patients with achylia gastrica and 9 control subjects. The mean Fe absorption was 19.8% in the achylic group and 35.2% in the controls. The difference between the means was significant at the 1% level. A significant increase in absorption occurred in the achylic group when normal gastric juice was given with the test dose of food Fe. Although the effect of adding neutralized gastric juice to the test dose was somewhat variable, the mean absorption was significantly lower than with normal gastric juice and not different from the absorption with bread alone. The results indicate that the absorption of Fe from a test meal of bread of low Fe content is diminished in the absence of gastric secretion and that the administration of normal gastric juice but not of neutralized gastric juice corrects the defect.