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

2.
Heme iron is absorbed by human duodenal
mucosal cells in a specific uptake process which
is not influenced by extrinsic factors like phytates,
calcium or oxalates.
The two different absorption pathways are
complimentary and additive.
Heme iron will not desensitize mucosa cells like
non-heme iron. It will be absorbed for instance
during proton pump inhibitor/antacid treatment as
opposed to non-heme.
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.

3.
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.
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

4.
Heme iron tablets often contain both
hemoglobin and non-heme iron such as
Ferrous fumarate or Ferrous sulphate, since
the hemoglobin raw material is voluminous in
comparison.
Heme- and non-heme iron will however not
interact or compete for uptake or efficacy. In
fact they complement each other.
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

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.
PATHWAYS OF IRON ABSORPTION
Marcel E. Conrad and Jay N. Umbreit
Blood Cells, Molecules, and Diseases (2002) 29(3) Nov/Dec: 336–355

6.
Heme iron tablets typically have a tolerance
close to placebo level, whereas non-heme oral
iron has a therapy failure rate due to side-
effects of around 30 %
Heme iron products have the potential to
complement anaemia therapy. This would mean
substantial savings for the community and a
much improved quality of life for the patients.
HEME IRON-BASED DIETARY INTERVENTION FOR IMPROVEMENT OF
IRON STATUS IN YOUNG WOMEN.
Hoppe M, Brun B, Larsson MP, Moraeus L, Hulthen L.
Nutrition. 2013 Jan;29(1):89-95.

7.
Heme iron works well with children and is
absorbed to a greater degree than non-
heme iron. It will also not inhibit zinc
absorption.
PRODUCTION OF STABLE-ISOTOPE-LABELED BOVINE HEME
AND ITS USE TO MEASURE HEME-IRON ABSORPTION IN
CHILDREN.
Paz Etcheverry, Gordon E Carstens, Erin Brown, Keli M
Hawthorne, Zhensheng Chen, and Ian J Griffin
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Am J Clin Nutr
2007;85:452–9.