Proton-coupled folate transporter (Slc46a1)

Has been shown to act both as an intestinal proton- coupled high-affinity folate transporter and as an intestinal heme transporter that mediates heme uptake from the gut lumen into duodenal epithelial cells. The iron is then released from heme and could be transported into the bloodstream.

Dietary heme iron is also an important nutritional source of iron. Shows a greater affinity for folate compared to heme.