Conversely, Anita et al. reported that high dietary iron (1% carbonyl iron) increased the expression of inflammatory cytokine IL-6 and STAT3 phosphorylation and worsened colitis and colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) in azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate (AOM/DSS) mouse models [39]. Here, STAT3 is linked to colitis.