Iron Metabolism

Introduction to what iron metabolism is Iron metabolism means the set of reactions that maintain homeostasis of iron in humans Iron can potentially be toxic to humans but it is needed in certain chemical reactions of human body Importance of iron regulation - Cellular respiration - Oxygen Transport - Bacterial protection

Iron in oxygen transport Heamoglobin is an iron-containing oxygen-transport protein that can be found in red blood cells The protein makes up about 96% of the red blood cells’ dry content The iron containing heme-group can be found in the middle of the heamoglobin protein Oxygen is carried from lungs to the rest of the body bound to the heme-group of hemoglobin In muscle cells, iron binds myoglobin, which regulates its release

Cellular respiration Human cells require iron in order to obtain energy as ATP from cellular respiration. More specifically, Iron is needed in the oxidative phosphorylation which takes place at the mitochondrial cristae Iron is present in the iron-sulfur clusters and heme groups of the electron transport chain proteins. They generate a proton gradient that allows ATP synthase to synthesize ATP

Humans have around 2.5 -4 grams of iron stored in their body Individuals need to absorb 10-15 milligrams a day Iron is the basis for the formation of RBCs 60% iron used to synthesie hemoglobin

Iron is stored as ferritin - Found mainly in the spleen and bone marrow - 20-30% of bodies total iron is stored here 9% used as functional iron in brain 60% present in RBCs as heme.

If too little iron is taken up, the result is iron deficency - 23% women of child-bearing age - 20% of children - 4 % men Malnutrition and blood loss are the leading causes

Symptoms - tiredness - low resistance to stress - lack of concentration - exercise intolerance - Hair loss