There are two types of iron in foods: heme iron and
nonheme iron.
A phylogenomic profile of hemerythrins, the
nonheme diiron binding respiratory proteins.
Comment: Black tea (and, to a lesser extent, green tea) has been shown to inhibit
nonheme iron absorption, but it has not been clear whether the timing of tea consumption relative to a meal influences iron bioavailability.
However, the form of iron (
nonheme) in these plant-based foods is not well absorbed by our bodies.
[90] have reported that a CORM can have enhanced toxicity against nonclassical targets, that is,
nonheme bacteria.
The authors have suggested that polyphenols deposited in muscle tissue may maintain the
nonheme iron in reduced form, which lead to initiation of Fenton's reaction increasing the intensity of muscle lipids oxidation.
Foods rich in
nonheme iron include spinach, lentils, prune juice, dried prunes, and fortified cereals.
One of the primary functions of nitrite is to act against lipid oxidation by the binding of heme and to prevent the release of catalytic iron, the binding of heme and
nonheme iron, and the inhibition of catalysis and stabilization of lipids against oxidation [7].
Pearson, "Metmyoglobin and
nonheme iron as prooxidants in cooked meat," Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, vol.
Besides its role as antioxidant, VitC exerts a chelator activity; indeed, by reducing ferric to ferrous ([Fe.sup.+3] [right arrow] [Fe.sup.+2]) iron and by generating soluble iron complexes, VitC efficiently enhances the absorption of
nonheme iron at the intestine level [14-17].