The influence of physiological levels of calcium and phosphorus on the absorption of nonheme iron from a semisynthetic meal was evaluated. Each of the 34 participating subjects received two to four test meals. In three studies where both calcium and phosphate were added, absorption of nonheme iron was reduced to 27 to 47% of that absorbed when no salts were added. However, with the single addition of either calcium or phosphate to the test meals no significantly inhibiting effect was observed. As the absorption of nonheme iron was significantly reduced only with the combined addition of calcium and phosphate, it is suggested that a calcium-phosphate-iron complex forms which inhibits iron absorption.