Abstract
Summary
The effect of metal chelation on intestinal adsorption of B12 was studied in man and in rats. When a physiological dose of B12-Co60 was instilled through an indwelling tube into the duodenum in man, immediately followed by 2 g of EDTA in a dilute solution, absorption was reduced markedly as studied by the Schilling test. Administered shortly after EDTA, Ca++, Mg++, Sr++, but not Fe++, Fe+++, or Zn++ counteracted the inhibition by EDTA. Similar results were obtained with rat intestinal loops. When there was interval between the dosage of B12-Co60 and EDTA, about 3 hours in man and 45 minutes in the case of rat loop were necessary for the absorption to become unaffected by EDTA.
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