Erythrocyte incorporation of ingested stable isotope of iron (58Fe)

Because of a possible hazard from the use of radioisotopes to determine iron absorption by infants, the use of stable isotopes for this purpose has much appeal. We have applied the method of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP/MS) to determine the mass ratio, 58Fe/57Fe, in blood before and after oral administration of 58Fe. From the increase in erythrocyte enrichment with 58Fe, we have calculated percentage absorption of iron. We have shown that the coefficient of variation of measured mass isotope ratio is 0.1-1.0%, depending on the conditions of the measurement. The method has been applied to a feasibility study involving four infants. Each infant was given 58Fe either as a single dose or as one dose on each of two consecutive days. Each dose provided 1.945 mg iron and 1.440 mg 58Fe. Samples of blood were obtained before isotope administration and at 14, 42, and 60 days thereafter. Isotopic analysis of the samples demonstrates that this approach results in a sufficiently large isotope enrichment to permit satisfactory measurement of iron availability. It is concluded that this new method is highly promising for studies of iron availability in infants and children.