Iron Absorption by Humans from Hemosiderin and Ferritin, Further Studies

• Published in: The Journal of nutrition Vol. 106; no. 1; pp. 128 - 135
• Main Authors: Martínez-Torres, Carlos, Renzi, Martha, Layrisse, Miguel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.01.1976
• Subjects: Absorption; Anemia, Hypochromic - metabolism; Animals; Ascorbic Acid - pharmacology; Female; ferritin; Ferritins - metabolism; Hemoglobins - metabolism; hemosiderin; Hemosiderin - metabolism; Humans; iron; Iron - metabolism; Iron Radioisotopes; Isotope Labeling; Liver - metabolism; Male; Rabbits; Transferrin - metabolism; Triticum; Venezuela; Venezuela; iron; ferritin; hemosiderin
• ISSN: 0022-3166; 1541-6100
• DOI: 10.1093/jn/106.1.128

Iron absorption from hemosiderin and ferritin biosynthetically labeled with radioactive iron has been studied in 61 subjects. The geometrical mean iron absorption from hemosiderin in both normal and iron deficient subjects was 3.4%. Its mean absorption ranged from 1.9% in normal subjects to 4.7% in subjects with moderate iron deficiency and 7.3% in subjects with marked iron deficiency. The iron absorption from hemosiderin was markedly increased when it was administered with ascorbic acid or liver. The absorption of iron from hemosiderin when hemosiderin and wheat were consumed in a meal, was lower than the absorption from wheat. Iron from liver ferritin and liver hemosiderin were less absorbed in this study than that previously reported for liver hemoglobin. The studies presented here support the possibility that ferritin and hemosiderin form an iron pool different from the non-heme pool formed by vegetal iron, egg iron and ferric and ferrous salts.