The absorption of iron, with or without supplements of single amino acids and of ascorbic acid, in healthy and Fe-deficient children.

1. Studies were done on the effect of ascorbic acid and five amino acids (histidine, cystine, cysteine, valine and glutamic acid) on intestinal iron absorption in a group of ninety Egyptian infants and young children, of which fifty-seven were healthy controls and thirty-three were suffering from Fe-deficiency anaemia. 2. Supplements tested promoted Fe absorption in healthy controls in the following order: valine larger than histidine larger than ascorbic acid. Cysteine, glutamic acid and cystine were found to have no significant effect. 3. Supplementation with valine, ascorbic acid and histidine also increased intestinal Fe absorption in anaemic subjects, but to a lesser extent than in controls. 4. Supplementation of haematinic therapy with these compounds is recommended. Their use is also suggested to improve the availability of the Fe content of everday diets.