Aim of the presented study was to investigate whether scorbic acid enhances iron uptake and/or toxicity in Caco-2 cells. Cells were incubated with 1.5 mM of different iron species combined with increasing doses of ascorbic acid (1-3 mM). Thereafter viability, membrane damage, lipid peroxidation, and intracellular iron concentrations were measured. No effects on iron-induced damage to cells were found regarding viability. Lipid peroxidation significantly increased when ascorbic acid was added to cells incubated with FeSO. In 4 contrast lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)-release decreased by addition of ascorbic acid in Caco-2 cells treated with FeCl : nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) and FeCl : citric acid. Iron uptake was enhanced by ascorbic acid, when 3 3 FeCl : citric acid (1:2) or FeSO were used. We suggested that, especially dependent on the iron species used, 3 4 a combination of ascorbic acid and iron favours lipid peroxidation in Caco-2 cells. But on the other hand we also found beneficial effects of this type of co-treatment, like an enhanced iron uptake and decreased plasma membrane damage.