The effect of food consistency on iron absorption.

Iron absorption and the half-time of gastric emptying were measured concurrently in 13 normal volunteer subjects. Each subject ate two test meals of identical composition; one meal was prepared and served in the usual manner while the second was homogenized before serving. No correlation was found between the half-time of gastric emptying and the absorption of either heme or nonheme iron among subjects eating the conventional meal. Homogenization of the meal led to a 31% fall in the mean half-time of gastric emptying and an increase in iron absorption of 22% for nonheme and 42% for heme. These findings indicate that the physical form of a meal has a modest effect on iron absorption.