Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the iron absorption defects using the oral iron absorption test (OIAT) in patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA).
Materials and methods: Forty-six patients with IDA which nonresponder to oral iron treatment were included in the study. OIAT was started at 8 a.m. after an overnight fast; 52.8 mg of elemental iron were given orally as 160 mg of iron sulfate. Iron levels of all participants were analyzed at baseline and at the 3rd hour of the study.
Results: Compared to baseline; serum iron levels whose serum iron levels exceed 91 mcg/ dl in 40(%87) patients. Further investigations in 6 patients revealed that 4 patients had chronic atrophic gastritis with helicobacter pylori infection; while the remaining 2 patients did not have any prominent.
Conclusions: This study demonstrated that OIAT is a good index for the evaluation of absorption defects and can be a screening clinical test of IDA.