Several weeks ago, I attended UC Davis’s Bioavailability conference in Pacific Grove, CA where researchers from around the world presented on numerous topics relating to micronutrient bioavailability that revealed exciting new research underway. Iron was a centerpiece of many discussions because it is the most common micronutrient deficiency worldwide, technically challenging to fortify, and complex interactions control its bioavailability. Various mechanisms in the body regulate iron homeostasis by sensing dietary iron content, iron storage levels, and erythropoietic iron requirements and then adjust iron absorption and transport accordingly (Sharp P., Srai SK. World J Gastroenterol 2007;13(35):4716-4724).  In the lumen, specific iron transporters and/or dietary factors help reduce ferric iron to ferrous iron for absorption into the cell system, while others are responsible for duodenal iron transport and homeostasis. Day-to-day variability in iron absorption is governed by the presence of iron “enhancers” and/or “inhibitors” in the diet. Numerous enhancers... Read more