The effect of calcium on non-heme iron uptake, efflux, and transport in intestinal-like epithelial cells (Caco-2 cells).

It has been suggested that calcium inhibits the absorption of dietary iron by directly affecting enterocytes. However, it is not clear if this effect is due to a decreased uptake of iron or its efflux from enterocytes. We studied the effect of calcium on the uptake, efflux, and net absorption of non-heme iron using the intestinal-like epithelial cell line Caco-2 as an in vitro model.