May Chelated Iron Be Pro-Inflammatory?

We have shown that two iron chelates, used in iron nutrition, promote induction of the oncogenic growth factor Amphiregulin in human gut epithelial cells. Since then, we have investigated several iron compounds on the safe lists of EFSA and USFDA using a human intestinal cell assay in combination with proteomic profiling. Here we will report proteomic cell data for other iron chelates, salts and nanoparticulate iron which suggest that iron chelates may increase the cellular sensitivity to pro-inflammatory mediators and growth promotors by increasing their receptor levels. We conclude that iron chelates may be pro-inflammatory and pro-oncogenic to intestinal cells