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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

The Caco-2 Cell Bioassay for Measurement of Food Iron Bioavailability

The Caco-2 Cell Bioassay for Measurement of Food Iron Bioavailability

Published on: April 28, 2022

The effect of calcium on iron absorption.

¹Eastern Virginia Medical School, Medical Service, Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Hampton, Virginia 23667, USA.

Nutrition Research Reviews

|December 18, 2008

Summary

Calcium (Ca) intake can inhibit iron (Fe) absorption, but its impact on Fe status is generally small in Western diets. Higher Ca intake may negatively affect Fe balance, especially during pregnancy if Fe supplements aren't used.

Area of Science:

Nutrition Science
Human Physiology
Dietary Bioavailability

Background:

Calcium (Ca) is known to inhibit iron (Fe) absorption.
Recent recommendations suggest increased Ca intake, necessitating an understanding of its impact on Fe status.
Dairy products, a primary Ca source, have a variable effect on Fe absorption.

Purpose of the Study:

To estimate the impact of varying Ca intake on dietary Fe bioavailability.
To provide guidelines for predicting the effects of increased Ca intake on Fe status.
To review experimental and epidemiological evidence on Ca's inhibition of Fe absorption.

Main Methods:

Review of experimental and epidemiological studies on Ca and Fe absorption.
Analysis of animal models and human absorption studies (single-meal and multiple-meal).

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Examination of outcome data from human intervention studies and cross-sectional analyses.

Main Results:

Ca salts reduced both heme and non-heme Fe absorption in animal models, dose-dependently.
Ca supplements and dairy products inhibited Fe absorption in human studies, influenced by co-ingestion and other dietary factors.
Multiple-meal studies and intervention trials suggest Ca supplementation has minimal impact on Fe status in most populations, except possibly during pregnancy.

Conclusions:

Dietary Ca supplements are unlikely to significantly impact Fe balance in Western societies unless habitual Ca intake is very low.
Increased dairy consumption may have a small negative effect on Fe status, potentially significant during pregnancy.
The inverse relationship between dairy intake and Fe status may involve factors beyond Ca, such as milk proteins.