Citation:
Alfred E. Thumser, Aswir Abd Rashed, Paul A. Sharp, John K. Lodge; Ascorbate enhances iron uptake into intestinal cells through formation of a
FeCl3-ascorbate complex, Food Chemistry, Volume 123, Issue 2, 15 November 2010, Pages 281-285
Abstract:
It has been well documented that ascorbate enhances iron uptake, with a proposed
mechanism based on reduction to the more absorbable ferrous form. We have
performed a study on the effects of ascorbate on ferric iron uptake in the human
epithelial Caco-2 cell-line. Ascorbate increased uptake in a concentration-
dependent manner with a significant difference between iron uptake and
reduction. Uptake kinetics are characteristic of a non-essential activator and
the formation of an Fe3+-ascorbate complex. This investigation provides evidence
that ascorbate enhances the apical uptake of ferric iron into Caco-2 cells
through the formation of a Fe3+-ascorbate complex. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All
rights reserved.
