Cadmium absorption and its interaction with essential transition metals

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Abstract
Intestinal cadmium absorption consists of mucosal uptake and of a subsequent transfer step. The amount of transferred Cd appears to depend on the accumulated Cd concentration in the mucosa. This study focuses on factors which can modify Cd‐absorption. These factors can be divided into nonspecific influences and phenomena which are related to specific interactions between Cd and essential transition metals such as Fe, Zn and Cu. There appear to be three types of interactions: direct competition between trace metals and Cd, the effect of the state of trace metal repletion on Cd absorption, and toxic Cd‐effects in the small intestine which, in turn, influence intestinal Cd transfer. The longitudinal gradient of intestinal iron‐absorption in iron‐deficient rats is a promising tool for discriminating between these different types of interaction. Preliminary data on the use of this tool is presented.