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Non-heme Iron as Ferrous Sulfate Does Not Interact with Heme Iron Absorption in Humans

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Abstract

The absorption of heme iron has been described as distinctly different from that of non-heme iron. Moreover, whether heme and non-heme iron compete for absorption has not been well established. Our objective was to investigate the potential competition between heme and non-heme iron as ferrous sulfate for absorption, when both iron forms are ingested on an empty stomach. Twenty-six healthy nonpregnant women were selected to participate in two iron absorption studies using iron radioactive tracers. We obtained the dose–response curve for absorption of 0.5, 10, 20, and 50 mg heme iron doses, as concentrated red blood cells. Then, we evaluated the absorption of the same doses, but additionally we added non-heme iron, as ferrous sulfate, at constant heme/non-heme iron molar ratio (1:1). Finally, we compare the two curves by a two-way ANOVA. Iron sources were administered on an empty stomach. One factor analysis showed that heme iron absorption was diminished just by increasing total heme iron (P < 0.0001). The addition of non-heme iron as ferrous sulfate did not have any effect on heme iron absorption (P = NS). We reported evidence that heme and non-heme iron as ferrous sulfate does not compete for absorption. The mechanism behind the absorption of these iron sources is not clear.

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Abbreviations

DMT1:

Divalent metal transporter

IREG1:

Ferroportin

FEP:

Free erythrocyte protoporphyrin

HCP1:

Heme carrier protein 1

Hb:

Hemoglobin

INTA:

Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology

MCV:

Mean corpuscular volume

CRBC:

Red blood cells

SD:

Standard deviation

SF:

Serum ferritin

Sat:

Transferrin saturation

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported by grant 1061060 from Fondo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (FONDECYT) Chile.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Group on Food and Human Nutrition, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia

    Diego Gaitán

  2. Micronutrients Laboratory, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INTA), University of Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Manuel Olivares, Alex Brito & Fernando Pizarro

  3. Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA, USA

    Bo Lönnerdal

  4. Graduate Group in Nutritional Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA

    Alex Brito

Authors
  1. Diego Gaitán
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  2. Manuel Olivares
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  3. Bo Lönnerdal
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  4. Alex Brito
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  5. Fernando Pizarro
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Correspondence to Diego Gaitán.

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Gaitán, D., Olivares, M., Lönnerdal, B. et al. Non-heme Iron as Ferrous Sulfate Does Not Interact with Heme Iron Absorption in Humans. Biol Trace Elem Res 150, 68–73 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-012-9496-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-012-9496-4

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