Is heme iron and retinol from animal sources more bioavailable than non-heme iron and beta-carotene from plants?

Bioavailability of Iron and Retinol1 min readUpdated June 6, 2026

What the Evidence Shows

We analyzed one assertion on this topic and found it supports the idea that heme iron and retinol from animal sources are absorbed more efficiently by the body than non-heme iron and beta-carotene from plants [1]. This single piece of evidence suggests that when you eat meat, eggs, or dairy, your...

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (0)
No supporting evidence found
Contradicting (0)
No contradicting evidence found
Primary Studies (1)

Update History

Published
June 6, 2026·Last updated June 6, 2026
  • Invalid DateNew topic created from assertion

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