Luis Guillermo Mayoral

Differential absorption of the heme and globin moieties of hemoglobin

SummaryStudies were performed in 4 healthy men to determine the intestinal absorption and fecal excretion of the heme and the protein moieties of hemoglobin when hemoglobin was given orally in large amounts. The relatively higher absorption of the protein moiety of hemoglobin was confirmed by a proportionate increase in urinary nitrogen. These observations indicate that the role of blood loss in the pathogenesis of protein malnutrition in patients with hookworm disease is minimal.