Effects of carbohydrates on iron metabolism in intestinal and liver cells
type: CreativeWork
description: Iron deficiency and excess are worldwide public health problems. Studies suggest that carbohydrates such as fructose, and oligo-and polysaccharides (prebiotics), increase iron bioavailability, but results are inconclusive. There is also interest in whether iron and fructose contribute to the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Intake of sugars has increased in the past three decades, as has the prevalence and incidence of HCC and AFLD, while CRC remains one of the top three occurring malignancies in the developed world, making these questions particularly relevant at this time. The aims of this thesis were to study iron-carbohydrate effects on: non-haem iron bioavailability, and on the expression of genes and proteins related to CRC, HCC and NAFLD. The principal carbohydrates investigated were fructose, the related sweetener high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), and fructo- and galacto-oligosaccharide prebiotics (FOS&GOS, respectively). It was hypothesised that fructose, HFCS, and FOS&GOS would increase non-haem iron bioavailability, and that iron and fructose would alter expression of genes and proteins related to the pathogenesis of CRC, HCC and NAFLD. Two human in vitro cell lines were used to investigate these questions: Caco-2 and HepG2 cells, models of the small intestine and liver, respectively. The Caco-2 in vitro digestion model was used to examine fructose, HFCS, and FOS&GOS effects on iron bioavailability with ferritin formation as a surrogate marker for iron uptake. Ferritin formation was also utilised to assess iron uptake in HepG2 cells. Expression of iron homeostasis proteins was analysed by Western Blot and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to explore biological mechanisms underlying observed effects on iron bioavailability. Lastly, Caco-2 and HepG2 cells were treated with iron and fructose, and the effects on selected genes and proteins involved in CRC, HCC and NAFLD develop…
abstract: Iron deficiency and excess are worldwide public health problems. Studies suggest that carbohydrates such as fructose, and oligo-and polysaccharides (prebiotics), increase iron bioavailability, but results are inconclusive. There is also interest in whether iron and fructose contribute to the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Intake of sugars has increased in the past three decades, as has the prevalence and incidence of HCC and AFLD, while CRC remains one of the top three occurring malignancies in the developed world, making these questions particularly relevant at this time. The aims of this thesis were to study iron-carbohydrate effects on: non-haem iron bioavailability, and on the expression of genes and proteins related to CRC, HCC and NAFLD. The principal carbohydrates investigated were fructose, the related sweetener high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), and fructo- and galacto-oligosaccharide prebiotics (FOS&GOS, respectively). It was hypothesised that fructose, HFCS, and FOS&GOS would increase non-haem iron bioavailability, and that iron and fructose would alter expression of genes and proteins related to the pathogenesis of CRC, HCC and NAFLD. Two human in vitro cell lines were used to investigate these questions: Caco-2 and HepG2 cells, models of the small intestine and liver, respectively. The Caco-2 in vitro digestion model was used to examine fructose, HFCS, and FOS&GOS effects on iron bioavailability with ferritin formation as a surrogate marker for iron uptake. Ferritin formation was also utilised to assess iron uptake in HepG2 cells. Expression of iron homeostasis proteins was analysed by Western Blot and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to explore biological mechanisms underlying observed effects on iron bioavailability. Lastly, Caco-2 and HepG2 cells were treated with iron and fructose, and the effects on selected genes and proteins involved in CRC, HCC and NAFLD develop…
author: Christides, Tatiana
language: en
keywords: QH301 Biology
date published: 2016-04
date modified: 2026-07-24T02:25:56Z
provider: University of Greenwich
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Greenwich