A recent study of ours indicate that the increased nonheme iron absorption from a low iron bioavailability meal was due not only to an effect of the lactic acid produced, but also a specific effect of the lactic acid bacteria. As lactic acid bacteria colonizes the entire intestine but mainly the colon it is of interest to determine whether these bacteria can increase iron absorption from the distal part of the intestine since iron absorption normally is believed to be absorbed from the duodenum and most proximal small intestine.