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Intestinal Iron Absorption

Dietary iron absorption takes place at the apical membrane of mature enterocytes. In hereditary hemochromatosis, increased iron absorption leads to the gradual accumulation of iron to levels that eventually become toxic. The iron regulatory protein HFE has been implicated in this process (1).

Enterocyte iron absorption mechanisms

Click on a protein (in blue) to learn more.

DMT1

Ferritin

Ferroportin

Transferrin receptor