[The use of drinking water as a vehicle of nutrients: experimental studies with iron].

This investigation is part of a large project, the objective of which is to study the possibility of utilizing drinking water as a carrier of nutrients, such as iron. Various iron salts and in different concentrations, were added to water and tested for their effect on color and turbidity. The bioavailability of various forms of iron salts added to drinking water was tested using the rat bioassay technique. The results of this study indicated that ferric ammonium citrate changed very little the color and turbidity of the water solutions. It was considered the best suitable form of iron to be added to drinking chloride water. Ferric ammonium citrate, ferrous sulfate and ferrous gluconate were all found effective in preventing rat anemia when added to their drinking water.