Iron Supplements and Oncogenic Effects in Human Intestinal Cells (P05-011-19)

Abstract

ObjectivesWe have previously shown that different iron supplements affect mechanisms for cell growth and viability in different ways and specifically we observed that two common iron supplements/fortificants, ferric citrate and ferric EDTA, promoted induction of the oncogenic growth factor Amphiregulin whilst ferrous sulfate did not. This difference is important and raises the question if some iron compounds should not be used as dietary supplements or for iron fortification of foods. MethodsTherefore, we have been screening iron compounds on the safe list of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) using human intestinal cell lines (Hutu-80 and Caco-2) and a proteomic immunoassay for 92 known markers related to cancer. ResultsPreliminary data show that a few more iron compounds, than the previously observed, have oncogenic properties and that amphiregulin protein levels are up-regulated. ConclusionsThese properties need further investigation and translation into the in vivo situation to evaluate if these iron compounds should be avoided as dietary supplements. Funding SourcesFORMAS.