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Updated: Jul 12, 2026

The Caco-2 Cell Bioassay for Measurement of Food Iron Bioavailability
Published on: April 28, 2022
Molecular mechanisms involved in intestinal iron absorption
Paul Sharp1, Surjit-Kaila Srai
1Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom. paul.a.sharp@kcl.ac.uk
Abstract:
Iron is an essential trace metal in the human diet due to its obligate role in a number of metabolic processes. In the diet, iron is present in a number of different forms, generally described as haem (from haemoglobin and myoglobin in animal tissue) and non-haem iron (including ferric oxides and salts, ferritin and lactoferrin). This review describes the molecular mechanisms that co-ordinate the absorption of iron from the diet and its release into the circulation. While many components of the iron transport pathway have been elucidated, a number of key issues still remain to be resolved. Future work in this area will provide a clearer picture regarding the transcellular flux of iron and its regulation by dietary and humoral factors.
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