Basal iron loss

Beaton, 1974). After adding to this amount the basal iron losses and applying the estimate of the upper limit of iron absorption adopted by the Canadian committee for subjects with iron stores, the risk curve for iron can be portrayed as in Fig. 2B. The underlying concepts and interpretations of the curves in Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B are consistent. The shape of the requirement distributions differs. 

Because basal iron losses are due to cell exfoliation, these losses are relative to interior body surfaces, totaling an estimated 14pg/kg body weight/day, and are approximately 0.8mg/day for nonmenstruating women and l.Omg/day for men. Basal losses in infants and children have not been directly determined and are estimated from data available on adult men. Basal losses are reduced in people with iron deficiency and increased in people with iron overload. The absorbed iron requirement for adult men and nonmenstruating women is based on these obligate iron losses. 

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