Tag: Hepcidin

A 2000 study demonstrated a dramatic five-fold increase in nonheme iron absorption in healthy subjects following regular erythropoietin (EPO) administration. This significant finding helped confirm the answer to the critical question: **does EPO increase iron absorption?** The answer is yes, and it is a crucial component of how the body maintains iron balance to support red blood cell production.

Recent studies, including a 2025 review of nearly 11,000 individuals, show that vitamin D deficiency is more prevalent in those with low iron and that average iron markers are consistently lower in people with vitamin D deficiency. The question of whether and how 'does vitamin D interfere with iron levels?' is complex and involves a bidirectional, rather than a simple competitive, relationship.