Vitamin absorption pathways

Vitamin absorption pathways represent the collective physiological processes responsible for the uptake of essential micronutrients from the gastrointestinal tract into the systemic circulation (StatPearls, 2023). These pathways are broadly divided into those for fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K), which rely on lipid emulsification and micellar transport, and water-soluble vitamins (B-complex and C), which typically utilize specific protein transporters or receptor-mediated endocytosis (Said, 2011). For instance, Vitamin B12 absorption requires the binding of gastric intrinsic factor and subsequent recognition by the cubilin-amnionless receptor complex in the ileum (NIH, 2023). Dysregulation of these pathways, whether through genetic mutations, gastrointestinal disease, or drug interactions (e.g., Metformin or Orlistat), can lead to clinically significant deficiencies such as pernicious anemia or osteomalacia (Harrison, 2012). Understanding these pathways is crucial for managing malabsorption syndromes and optimizing the delivery of therapeutic vitamin analogs.

Other names

Micronutrient absorptionIntestinal vitamin transportVitamin uptake mechanisms

Passive diffusion, Facilitated diffusion, Active transport, Receptor-mediated endocytosis