Question

Compared to non-heme iron, heme iron is absorbed how?

a) More efficiently
b) Less efficiently
c) Equally efficiently
d) Not absorbed at all

Answer 1

Heme iron is absorbed more efficiently than non-heme iron, with heme iron sourced from animal products and more readily entering the body's iron pool.

Step-by-step explanation:

Compared to non-heme iron, heme iron is absorbed more efficiently. Heme iron, found in animal sources like meat, poultry, and fish, is more easily absorbed into the bloodstream due to its association with the heme group.

This form of iron can directly enter the body's total iron pool and is stored in the liver or spleen within protein compounds such as ferritin and hemosiderin. In contrast, non-heme iron from plant sources is absorbed less efficiently and often requires the presence of vitamin C or certain proteins to improve its solubility and uptake.