Abstract
An animal model was developed in which the effect of iron deficiency on the oral mucosa could be studied. Iron deficiency was induced by feeding hamsters a low-iron powdered diet together with withdrawal of 0·5 ml of blood weekly, for a period of 9 weeks. At the end of this period the mean haematological values for control animals were, Hb 15·9 g/dl, plasma iron 40·3 μmol/l, TIBC 90·5 μmol/l and transferrin saturation 44·5%, compared with 7·4, 7·2, 111·4 and 6·5 respectively for experimental animals. These results were reproducible in successive groups of animals and indicate that this is a useful model for the study of iron deficiency anaemia.