Iron absorption from some Asian meals containing contamination iron

Iron absorption was measured from 12 Asian meals using the extrinsic tag method. Up to 50% of the nonheme iron in the meals did not exchange with the added inorganic radioiron tracer. The extent of isotopic exchange, the native iron and the "contamination" iron was measured using a recently developed in vitro method. The results imply that in measurements of iron absorption from meals, especially in developing countries, it is essential to consider the presence of contamination iron and its limited bioavailability.