- Total iron content in body is 3-5 g
- 70% is in RBCs and 5% in myoglobins
- Present as Hemoglobin, myoglobins, transferrin, ferritin, hemosiderin , etc
- Hemoglobin and myoglobin constituent
- Cytochrome contains iron, necessary for cellular respiration
- Peroxidase and Catalase enzymes have iron
Adult | 10 mg/day |
Menstruating women | 18 mg/day |
Pregnant women | 40 mg/day |
BEST –Organ meat
GOOD – leafy vegetables, pulses, cereals, Apple, fish, dry fruits
POOR – Milk, week, polished rice
- Iron found in foods is in the ferric form and is bound to proteins or organic acids.
- But iron in the ferric state is not soluble and difficult to absorb
- Hydrochloric acid in the stomach releases this ferric ion
- Reducing substances such as Vitamin C and cysteine convert ferric Ion to ferrous ion which is taken inside the intestinal cell
- Inside the cell ferrous ion is again converted into ferric form by ferroxidase. Ferric Ion then combines with apoferritin to form ferritin. This is the temporary storage.
- When iron enters the plasma from the intestinal cells it is free from apoferritin and is in the Ferrous form again.
- In the plasma it is again converted into its ferric form buy a copper containing protein called ceruloplasmin.
- Now, this ferric ion in the plasma binds with a protein called as transferrin
- On reaching various tissues iron is free from transferrin and stored again in the form of ferritin.
(Hemosiderin is another storage protein which functions the same)
Promoting Factors | Inhibiting Factors |
Amino acids | Phytates, oxalates |
Acidic pH | Alkaline pH |
Low Phosphate diet | High phosphate diet |
- Iron is not excreted into urine
- Excretory modes include bile ,sweat , etcwhich is very low ( 1-3 mg/day )
- Thus in order to equilibriate the input with the output, only that much amount is absorbed
Iron deficiency Anemia
- Most common anaemia in the country
- Occurs due to either inadequate intake or impaired absorption of iron or due to heavy blood loss
- It is characterized by microcytic hypochromic anaemia
- It is treated by supplementation of iron along with Folic acid and Vitamin C to aid the absorption process
Hemosiderosis
- It occurs due to presence of excess of iron in the body
- Due to high iron levels the protein hemosiderin is used for storage of iron since iron is not easily excreted.
Hemochromatosis
- It is a condition in which iron is directly deposited in the tissues
- This condition sometimes accompanies hemosiderosis
- It leads to a condition clinically called as bronze diabetes.
– By PRAJWAL SHETTY (LTMMC)