Quote from Jiří on December 11, 2025, 12:22 am

@pepe show me the evidence that apolactoferrin chelates iron out from the body.

 

what it does in the body once it is bound to iron

 

ChatGPT said:

When apolactoferrin binds iron, it becomes hololactoferrin, and its behavior in the body changes. Here is what happens step-by-step:

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✅ What happens once apolactoferrin binds iron

1. It becomes hololactoferrin (iron-loaded form)

Once iron binds, the protein changes conformation and becomes very stable. Hololactoferrin is resistant to breakdown in the gut and bloodstream.

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✅ 2. It carries the iron into cells via lactoferrin receptors

Cells have lactoferrin receptors (especially immune cells, intestinal cells).
Hololactoferrin is internalized by:

• intestinal epithelial cells

• immune cells (monocytes, macrophages)

• hepatocytes

• bone marrow cells

Inside the cell, iron is released in a controlled way.

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✅ 3. The iron is delivered to ferritin or used for normal functions

When hololactoferrin releases iron inside the cell:

• Ferritin safely stores it

• Or the iron is used for:

  • hemoglobin synthesis

  • mitochondrial enzymes

  • antioxidant enzymes

  • energy production

This prevents free iron from circulating and causing oxidative stress.

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✅ 4. Lactoferrin (now iron-free again) is recycled or broken down

After releasing its iron:

• It is either reused

• Or degraded into amino acids

It does not keep removing iron from tissues; it primarily manages iron traffic, not removal.

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Important:

⭐ Lactoferrin does not remove iron from the body.

Instead, it:

• captures free iron

• delivers it safely to cells

• prevents oxidative damage

• reduces inflammation

It acts like an iron buffer, not an iron excretion mechanism.

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If you want, I can also explain:

• how lactoferrin affects ferritin levels,

• its role in iron overload vs inflammation, or

• how it interacts with copper metabolism (important in your case).