Nathanson M H, McLaren G D
J Nutr. 1987 Jun;117(6):1067-75. doi: 10.1093/jn/117.6.1067.
The quantity and distribution of body iron normally vary little over time. This homeostasis is maintained primarily through control of intestinal iron absorption, but the mechanism of this regulation is unclear. Modern techniques for computer simulation and numerical analysis now make it possible to study the kinetics of iron absorption in vivo. We used a physiologically based mathematical model of iron metabolism to analyze tracer iron kinetics in normal and iron-deficient beagles. The model provides characteristic information about both intestinal and systemic iron exchange, thus permitting formulation of an hypothesis that may explain the regulation of iron absorption under these conditions. The results indicate that control of iron absorption is a function of independent expression of iron requirements by each tissue, including the intestinal mucosa. This hypothesis is consistent with other in vivo and in vitro observations in iron deficiency and may have implications for understanding the mechanism of the altered iron absorption in other disorders of iron metabolism.
正常情况下，体内铁的含量和分布随时间变化很小。这种体内平衡主要通过控制肠道铁吸收来维持，但这种调节机制尚不清楚。现代计算机模拟和数值分析技术现在使研究体内铁吸收动力学成为可能。我们使用基于生理学的铁代谢数学模型来分析正常和缺铁比格犬的示踪铁动力学。该模型提供了关于肠道和全身铁交换的特征信息，从而允许提出一个可能解释这些条件下铁吸收调节的假设。结果表明，铁吸收的控制是每个组织（包括肠黏膜）独立表达铁需求的函数。这一假设与缺铁时的其他体内和体外观察结果一致，可能对理解铁代谢其他紊乱中铁吸收改变的机制有启示意义。
