Effects of various Fe compounds on the bioavailability of Pb contained in orally ingested soils in mice: mechanistic insights and health implications.

Reducing lead (Pb) exposure via oral ingestion of contaminated soils is highly relevant for child health. Elevating dietary micronutrient iron (Fe) intake can reduce Pb oral bioavailability while being beneficial for child nutritional health. However, the practical performance of various Fe compounds was not assessed. Here, based on mouse bioassays, ten Fe compounds applied to diets (100-800 mg Fe kg^-1) reduced Pb oral relative bioavailability (RBA) in two soils variedly depending on Fe forms. EDTA-FeNa was most efficient, which reduced Pb-RBA in a soil from 79.5 ± 14.7 % to 23.1 ± 2.72 % (71 % lower) at 100 mg Fe kg^-1 in diet, more effective than other 9 compounds at equivalent or higher doses (3.6-68 % lower). When EDTA-FeNa, ferrous gluconate, ferric citrate, and ferrous bisglycinate were supplemented, Fe-Pb co-precipitation was not observed in the intestinal tract. EDTA-FeNa, ferrous gluconate, ferric citrate, and ferrous sulfate suppressed...