Nonheme iron absorption in young women is not influenced by purified sulfated and unsulfated glycosaminoglycans.

Meat is a well-known enhancer of iron absorption, yet the molecular entity mediating the effect remains obscure. Recently published data indicate that highly acidic sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAG) from fish and chicken muscle are effective stimulants of iron uptake in Caco-2 cells. Two fully randomized stable isotope studies with crossover design were performed in a group of 16 apparently healthy young women to assess the effect of purified sulfated and unsulfated GAG on human iron absorption. Iron absorption was measured on the basis of erythrocyte incorporation of (57)Fe or (58)Fe 14 d after the administration of labeled semisynthetic meals (SSM) based on egg albumin, corn oil, maltodextrin, and water. The meals were consumed with or without added sodium hyaluronate (NaH, 300 mg) or chondroitin sulfate (CS, 360 mg) as representative unsulfated and sulfated GAG, respectively. The level of GAG added was 3 times (NaH) to about 10 times (CS), the amount expected to be present in 150 g beef muscle. Geometric mean iron absorption from SSM containing NaH (21.2%) or CS (19.4%) did not differ from that of SSM without GAG (19.5 and 20.3%, respectively). NaH and CS at those levels do not affect human nonheme iron absorption.