Abstract
Summary
Decreased iron absorption was observed in rats fed protein deficient starch and sucrose diets. This was not caused by a direct intraluminal effect of starch or sucrose upon iron absorption. The abnormality was attributed to both a retarded rate of growth and a relative deficiency of protein for hemoglobin synthesis. We postulated that “starch eaters anemia” is caused by a lack of dietary iron and may be complicated by a decreased capability to absorb iron because of protein deprivation and decreased erythropoiesis.
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