44 research outputs found
Ascorbate enhances iron uptake into intestinal cells through formation of a FeCl3-ascorbate complex
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
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