There are about 4 grams of iron in the body of an average persons. Iron has several vital functions in the body. Iron is essential for the red blood cells forming and oxygen carrying to the tissues. Iron as a nutritive mineral boosts energy in human bodies, makes them active and provides them with stamina.
Iron is tightly linked to the hemoglobin, which serves as a carrier of oxygen from the lungs to all body cells.
Most of the iron in the body is present in the erythrocytes as hemoglobin, a molecule composed of four units each containing one heme group and one protein chain.
Iron is engaged in operations in all human cells and is distributed among metabolic, structural, and transport compartments. It plays a decisive role in the growth and physical development of children and teenagers, as it helps their bodies grow in a healthy and harmonious way.
In addition to being found in hemoglobin, iron is stored in the liver, spleen, bone marrow and other tissues.
Iron is found in egg yolk, mushrooms, red meat (beef), but also in the green leaved vegetables (spinach), watermelons etc. Vegetarian sources of iron include chickpeas, soybeans, kidney beans and lentils.
Iron absorption occurs in the proximal duodenum. Clinical disorders that affect iron absorption include malabsorption syndromes such as steatorrhea and tropical sprue.
Iron deficiency anemia impairs the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. Sign and symptoms of iron deficiency, mostly demonstrated in children include parlor, listlessness, behavioral disturbances and impaired performance in some cognitive task.
In adults, work performance and productivity are most commonly impaired with iron deficiency.
In United States and Canada, about 20% of women and 3% of men have the problem some 8% of women and 1% men are anemic, experiencing fatigue, weakness, apathy and headaches.
The importance of iron in human body
