López-Moreno Miguel, Viña Isabel, Marrero-Fernández Paula, Galiana Carla, Bertotti Gabriele, Roldán-Ruiz Alberto, Garcés-Rimón Marta
Diet, Planetary Health and Performance, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain.
School of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain.
Mol Nutr Food Res. 2025 Jun;69(12):e70096. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.70096. Epub 2025 May 5.
Non-heme iron, mainly from plant foods, is theoretically less bioavailable than heme iron from animal food, which might increase the risk of iron deficiency in vegans. This study aimed to evaluate acute changes in plasma iron levels following non-heme iron intake in vegans compared with omnivores and to explore the mechanisms regulating these changes. Twenty-seven participants (18-30 years old) were divided into vegans and omnivores. After baseline measurements (body composition, blood pressure, and blood biomarkers), the participants consumed 150 g of pistachios. Blood samples were taken at baseline, 120 and 150 min after consumption to measure serum iron. The main outcome was the area under the curve (AUC) of serum iron The AUC for serum iron was significantly higher in vegans (1002.8 ± 143.9 µmol/L/h) compared to omnivores (853 ± 268.2 µmol/L/h) (p = 0.04; ES: 0.68). Multivariate regression analysis identified significant associations with hepcidin levels (β = -0.5, p = 0.03) and basal iron levels in the vegan group. This study demonstrates higher non-heme iron absorption in vegans compared to omnivores, highlighting the physiological adaptations involved in iron metabolism in plant-based diets. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings and assess plant-based diets' long-term effects on iron metabolism.
非血红素铁主要来自植物性食物，理论上其生物利用率低于动物性食物中的血红素铁，这可能会增加纯素食者缺铁的风险。本研究旨在评估与杂食者相比，纯素食者摄入非血红素铁后血浆铁水平的急性变化，并探讨调节这些变化的机制。27名参与者（18 - 30岁）被分为纯素食者和杂食者。在进行基线测量（身体成分、血压和血液生物标志物）后，参与者食用150克开心果。在基线、食用后120分钟和150分钟采集血样以测量血清铁。主要结果是血清铁的曲线下面积（AUC）。与杂食者（853 ± 268.2微摩尔/升/小时）相比，纯素食者血清铁的AUC显著更高（1002.8 ± 143.9微摩尔/升/小时）（p = 0.04；效应量：0.68）。多变量回归分析确定了与纯素食组中血浆铁调素水平（β = -0.5，p = 0.03）和基础铁水平的显著关联。本研究表明，与杂食者相比，纯素食者对非血红素铁的吸收更高，突出了植物性饮食中铁代谢所涉及的生理适应性。需要更大规模的纵向研究来证实这些发现，并评估植物性饮食对铁代谢的长期影响。
