Some more published studies on heme iron supplementation. A collection of scientific published studies to draw conclusions on the properties of this unique form of iron supplementation.

1. HEMOGLOBIN IRON II
What do we know?
Some more published studies of heme iron supplementation

2. EFFECT OF TEA AND OTHER DIETARY FACTORS ON IRON
ABSORPTION.
Zijp IM, Korver O, Tijburg LB.
Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2000 Sep;40(5):371-98.
“Iron deficiency is a major world health problem, that is, to a great extent, caused by poor
iron absorp^on from the diet. Several dietary factors can influence this absorp^on.
Absorp^on enhancing factors are ascorbic acid and meat, fish and poultry; inhibi^ng
factors are plant components in vegetables, tea and coffee (e.g., polyphenols, phytates),
and calcium. Aber iden^fying these factors their individual impact on iron absorp^on is
described. Specific acen^on was paid to the effects of tea on iron absorp^on.. For
subjects at risk of iron deficecency the following recommenda^ons are made..Increase
heme-iron intake (this form of dietary iron present in meat fish and poultry is hardly
influenced by other dietary factors with respect to its absorp^on)..”
Heme iron is not affected by other simultaneously
ingested food or drink.

3. PROTON PUMP INHIBITORS SUPPRESS ABSORPTION OF
DIETARY NON-HAEM IRON IN HEREDITARY
HAEMOCHROMATOSIS.
Hutchinson C, Geissler CA, Powell JJ, Bomford A.
Gut. 2007 Sep;56(9):1291-5
“Low iron counts and even anaemia is often found in patiens using proton
pumb inhibitors such as Losec (omeprazole).
These drugs make stomach content less acidic.
A lowered gastric acid pH effectively stops non-heme iron uptake.”
Much used proton-pump inhibitors such as Losec e.g
stop the uptake of non-heme iron leading to iron
deple^on in many cases.

4. PATHWAYS OF IRON ABSORPTION
Hutchinson C, Geissler CA, Powell JJ, Bomford A.
Gut. 2007 Sep;56(9):1291-5
“In the literature mechanisms for both organic (heme) and inorganic (non-
heme) iron uptake are well documented.
The special pathway through which heme iron is absorbed has great benefits,
mainly because the uptake is substantially higher.
Since the hemoglobin molecule is absorbed as a whole no free iron ions are
released in the intestine to trigger disturbancies."
Heme iron enters as a whole structure without
disintegra^ng before uptake and does not compete
with non-heme iron for uptake.

5. NON-HEME IRON AS FERROUS SULFATE DOES NOT
INTERACT WITH HEME IRON ABSORPTION IN HUMANS.
Gaitán D, Olivares M, Lönnerdal B, Brito A, Pizarro F.
Biol Trace Elem Res. 2012 Dec;150(1-3):68-73
“The addi^on of non-heme iron as ferrous sulfate did not have any effect on heme
iron absorp^on (P = NS). We reported evidence that heme and non-heme iron as
ferrous sulfate does not compete for absorp^on".
Means that heme iron will not interact with non-heme
iron for uptake or efficacy.

6. PATHWAYS OF IRON ABSORPTION
Marcel E. Conrad and Jay N. Umbreit
Blood Cells, Molecules, and Diseases (2002) 29(3) Nov/Dec: 336–355
”Iron is vital for all living organisms but excess iron can be lethal because it facilitates
free radical forma^on. Thus iron absorp^on is carefully regulated to maintain an
equilibrium between absorp^on and body loss of iron. In countries where meat is a
significant part of the diet, most body iron is derived from dietary heme because heme
binds few of the dietary chelators that bind inorganic iron.”
”Women eat less food than men and must absorb about 2 mg of iron daily during the
childbearing years in order to avoid becoming iron deficient.”
”Heme enters the enterocyte as an intact metalloporphyrin. Heme uptake is not
compe^^ve with non-heme iron.”
Heme iron is absorbed as as a whole structure without
disintegra^ng releasing reac^ve free iron ions thus
causing the all too common gastro-intes^nal side-effects.

7. HEME IRON-BASED DIETARY INTERVENTION FOR
IMPROVEMENT OF IRON STATUS IN YOUNG WOMEN.
Hoppe M, Brun B, Larsson MP, Moraeus L, Hulthen L.
Nutri^on. 2013 Jan;29(1):89-95.
”Objec^ve:
Conven^onal iron deficiency treatment with pharmacologic iron doses oben
causes side effects. Heme iron has high bioavailability and a low capacity to cause
gastrointes^nal side effects. This study inves^gated the possibility of using heme
iron in the form of blood-based crisp bread as a diet-based treatment program to
improve the iron status of women of reproduc^ve age.
Conclusion:
Dietary-based treatment containing heme iron has few side effects and can be
used efficiently to improve the iron status of women of reproduc^ve age.”
Heme iron products have the poten^al
to complement anaemia therapy.
This would mean substan^al savings for the community
and a much improved quality of life for the pa^ents.

8. HEME IRON-BASED DIETARY INTERVENTION FOR
IMPROVEMENT OF IRON STATUS IN YOUNG WOMEN.
Paz Etcheverry, Gordon E Carstens, Erin Brown, Keli M Hawthorne,
Zhensheng Chen, and Ian J Griffin
Am J Clin Nutr 2007;85:452–9.
”Background: The use of stable isotopes has provided valuable insights into iron
absorp^on in humans, but the data have been limited to nonheme iron.
Conclusions: Heme iron intrinsically labeled with 58 Fe can be produced
at sufficient enrichments for use in human studies. In children, heme iron and zinc
absorp^on decrease as the dose of each mineral increases. Heme iron did not
inhibit zinc absorp^on. At lower heme intakes, zinc intakes may increase heme-iron
absorp^on.
The current study suggests that geometric mean heme-iron absorp^on
from 4 mg heme iron (13–16%) is higher, consistent with the expecta^on that
heme-iron absorp^on would be greater than nonheme-iron absorp^on.”
This means heme iron works well with children and is
absorbed to a greater degree than non-heme iron

9. The Op^Fer® series
The Op^Fer® series of heme iron supplements are made in
Sweden according to GMP and HACCP regula^ons and have all
cervica^ons. Normal dosage is one to two tablets per day at any
^me. The raw material of the Op^Fer®-series is fully natural and
non-syntethic.
www.op^fer.interna^onal
www.hemeiron.com