2 ms·
Iron supplements are often used, so it would be interesting to know if they also might be significant risk factors.
by m0llusk 2y ago
Iron supplements are often used, so it would be interesting to know if they also might be significant risk factors.
- adrian_b 2y agoThe iron supplements normally contain only reduced Fe(II) ions, because only those are soluble in water and easily absorbable in the intestine. This study identifies only the oxidized Fe(III) ions as causing cancer. The oxidized Fe(III) ions can have any effect in the intestine only when they are bound to organic molecules, like in blood or in red muscles. Otherwise, the oxidized Fe(III) ions form insoluble precipitates, which either pass through the intestine without any interaction, or they are reduced to soluble Fe(II), which is not harmful, but an essential nutrient. Nevertheless, an excessively high intake of iron supplements can have various harmful effects, like any other excessive food intake.