Increased hepatic accumulation of ingested Cd is associated with upregulation of several intestinal transporters in mice fed diets deficient in essential metals.

Essential metals (EMs) can affect the metabolism of nonessential metals. It has been suggested that Fe deficiency increases intestinal absorption of Cd via divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1). To investigate whether EM nutritional status is a host risk factor for Cd accumulation, we studied the effect of nutritional status of Ca, Cu, Mg, Zn, and Fe that most often ingested by humans at levels below recommended dietary allowances on tissue accumulation of orally administered Cd.