The knowledge of the biochemistry of the mineral elements is also. Most people should be able to get all the iron they need through their diet, although in certain cases, supplementary iron may be necessary. This article gives an overview of micronutrients, their functions and the. Role of iron in human health arun malik national agrifood biotechnology institute, mohali, punjab, india email. It is also possible to have too much iron deposited in the body tissues. Your body uses iron to make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body, and myoglobin, a protein that provides oxygen to muscles. Fluoride is best known for its role in preventing tooth decay.
Most of the iron in the body is present in the erythrocytes as haemoglobin, a molecule composed of four units. Haemoglobin s primary role is to transport oxygen from the lungs to body tissues to maintain basic life functions. The importance of mineral elements for humans, domestic. This article contains a list of iron s principle functions in the human body, and ends with a guide to our recommended daily. Iron is an essential nutrient that is vital to the processes by which cells generate energy. Fluoride info function, deficiency, and recommended. Adults with normal intestinal function have very little risk of iron overload from dietary sources of iron. Having enough iron in the body can help prevent iron deficiency. It is one of the parts of hemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells that helps blood carry oxygen throughout the body. The human body needs iron to make the oxygencarrying proteins hemoglobin and myoglobin.
In contrast to haem iron, our body doesnt absorb nonhaem iron as easily. Iron is important for many functions in the body, especially for the transport of oxygen in the blood. Role of iron in human health arun malik and hariom yadav national agrifood biotechnology institute, mohali, punjab, india email. This type of iron is found in plantbased foods like cereals, vegetables and legumes. In a healthy body, when the stores of iron are sufficient, the intestines reduce the absorption of this mineral from food. Inadequate iron in the diet, impaired absorption of iron, and excessive bleeding are all examples of conditions that can lead to. Hemoglobin develops in cells in the bone marrow that become red blood cells. In this article we will discuss about the metabolism of iron in human body with the help of suitable diagram. One of the most important functions of iron is in heme synthesis, which forms haemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells. Phosphorus is indispensable for all active tissues. The iron deposition associated with chronic alcoholism, however, is typically limited to the liver and not seen extensively in other organs. A deficiency of iron can result from a number of different causes. A revolution occurred during the last decade in the comprehension of the physiology as well as in the physiopathology of iron metabolism. Why do we need iron iron is a mineral found in every cell in the body.
Iron helps form and oxygenate our blood cells and haemoglobin. One of the most important health benefits of iron is that it acts as a carrier of oxygen and helps transfer oxygen from one body cell to another. About 70 percent of your bodys iron is found in the red blood cells of your blood called hemoglobin and in muscle cells called myoglobin. Micronutrients are one of the major groups of nutrients and vital for human health. Iron why we need it, how it affects our body and natural.
Fluoride is derived from the chemical element fluorine, and works to prevent bone weakening and promote new bone growth. Iron also has a role in a variety of other important processes in the body. Recall that iron is the central atom of the heme group, a metal complex that binds molecular oxygen o2 in the lungs and carries it to all of the other cells in the body that need oxygen to perform their. It aids the growth of hair and helps counteract fatigue. Hemoglobin and functions of iron patient education. It is primarily involved in the transfer of oxygen from the lungs to tissues.
It serves as a carrier of oxygen to the tissues from the lungs by red blood cell haemoglobin, as a transport medium for electrons within cells, and as an integrated part of important enzyme systems in various tissues. However, because it is present in the diet in much larger quantities than is haem iron, it is an important source of this mineral. An overview sarika arora and raj kumar kapoor department of biochemistry, esi postgr aduate institute of medical sciences, basaidarapur, new delhi, india 1. Iron performs many important functions in the body. Iron is a mineral that the body needs for growth and development.
If your child does not get enough iron, your child may develop anemia. A person with iron overload disorder may experience tiredness and fatigue. Iron is both necessary to the body and potentially toxic. Iron is a mineral that our bodies need for many functions. About 70 percent of your bodys iron is found in the red blood cells of your blood. Human iron metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that maintain human homeostasis of iron at the systemic and cellular level.
Over 70% of iron in the body is present in the bloodstream in the form of rbcs. This week in the nutrition class im teaching we are covering the basics of the importance of iron metabolism and function in the body so i thought for this wellness wednesday i would share it with you all. Iron is also part of many other proteins and enzymes. Hemoglobin represents about twothirds of the body s iron. Learn more about the importance of iron in the body and how spatone liquid iron food supplement can provide your body s daily iron.
However, iron also plays a role in metabolism as a component of some proteins and enzymes. Excessive iron stores exceed the body s capacity to chelate iron, and free iron accumulates. The total amount of blood in humans varies with age, sex, weight, body type, and other factors, but a rough average figure for adults is about 60 millilitres per kilogram of body. Iron also can be damaging when it accumulates in the body. Different types of vitamins and minerals enable healthy body function, such as cell and tissue repair, production of cells, and healthy brain function. Introduction iron is the most abundant element on earth, yet only trace elements are present in living cells. A lack of iron can lead to iron deficiency anaemia. Once iron is absorbed, there is no physiologic mechanism for excretion of excess iron from the body other than blood loss, that is, pregnancy, menstruation, or. Iron is bound and transported in the body via transferrin and stored in ferritin molecules. Iron dextran may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
In fact, iron is a problem nutrient for millions of people. Part of a molecule hemoglobin found in red blood cells that carries oxygen in the body. Iron is well known to play an important role in a variety of physiological processes in the human body, such as oxygen metabolism, muscle contraction, synthesis of dna and rna, nerve conduction, proton transfer, enzyme synthesis, and regulation of acidbase balance and osmotic pressure in cells 1. Iron is a mineral vital to the proper function of hemoglobin, a protein needed to transport oxygen in the blood. Iron is found in meats, eggs, dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, whole grains and enriched food products.
Iron is a vital trace mineral whose main role is in making and maintaining healthy red blood cells, and promoting the transfer oxygen around the body. Your body doesnt produce these vitamins and minerals on its own, and while you can get most of these from a supplement, your body reacts better when these vitamins and minerals come from food. For example, iron is part of hemoglobin, a protein which carries oxygen from our lungs throughout our bodies. Iron is important in making red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. This is a critical function of iron as oxygen is required by each and every body part to perform routine body functions. It is vital for both physical health and mental wellbeing. Iron deficiency anemia can be treated with iron supplements, and by adopting strategies to improve the body s absorption of the iron in the supplements e. Essential for blood production, energy, and cognitive function, the role of iron in our bodies is an important but complex component.
Iron is an important component of hemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to transport it throughout your body. Iron helps produce red blood cells, which help transport oxygen to different parts of the body, and is involved in energy metabolism. Phosphorus is essential for the proper utilization of not only calcium but also other minerals like iron, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. Introduction iron is the most abundant element on earth, yet only trace elements are. While fluoride does help overall bone strength, the effects of fluoride are most visible when it. Iron is required for maintaining immunity, metabolism, and brain function. Also, severe shortages or selfprescribed minerals can alter the delicate balance in body functions that promotes health. The excess iron affects organ function, presumably by direct toxic effect. Iron helps red blood cells carry oxygen through the body and supports a childs ability to learn. Controlling iron levels in the body is a critically important part of many aspects of human health and disease.
Role of iron in human health university of pittsburgh. Hemoglobin and functions of iron iron is an essential element for blood production. If you do not have enough iron, your body cannot make hemoglobin, and you may get anemia, a health problem that occurs when there is not enough hemoglobin in the blood. Blood is made up of multiple components, including red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Pdf calcium and its role in human body researchgate. It is found in all living organisms, and while it is perhaps best known for its role in hemoglobin formation, iron plays extremely important roles in numerous other biological processes. Iron dextran is used to treat iron deficiencies and iron deficiency anemia low red blood cells. Iron is needed for the formation of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen from the lungs to the body cells.
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