Macroelements: Need > 100mg per day. e.g. Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, S and Cl (CaPSMgNaClK) Trace elements: Less e.g. iron, copper, zinc, iodine, selenium, cobalt In body it is found in : Haemoglobin, Myoglobin, Ferritin, Hemosiderin, Transferrin and enzymes like cytochromes Sources are meat, fish, eggs, cereals like wheat , green leafy vegetables Milk is deficient in Iron absorption Through intestinal mucosa mainly duodenum Acidic pH of stomach favours aborption Ascorbic acid (Vit C) and Ceruloplasmin promotes absorption 5 – 10% of iron is absorbed RDA Adult Male: 10mg/day Adult Female: 20mg/day

1. MINERALS
IRON
Maryam Fida (o-1827)
Source: Biochemistry – Lippincott’s
Illustrated Reviews
World Wide Web

2. MINERALS
• Macroelements: Need > 100mg per day. e.g. Na, K, Ca,
Mg, P, S and Cl (CaPSMgNaClK)
• Trace elements: Less e.g. iron, copper, zinc, iodine,
selenium, cobalt

3. IRON
In body it is found in :
• Haemoglobin, Myoglobin, Ferritin, Hemosiderin, Transferrin
and enzymes like cytochromes

4. SOURCES
• Sources are meat, fish, eggs, cereals like wheat , green leafy vegetables
• Milk is deficient in Iron

5. ABSORPTION
• Through intestinal mucosa mainly duodenum
• Acidic pH of stomach favours aborption
• Ascorbic acid (Vit C) and Ceruloplasmin promotes absorption
• 5 – 10% of iron is absorbed
• RDA
• Adult Male: 10mg/day
• Adult Female: 20mg/day

6. STRUCTURE OF
HEME
Heme is a complex of
protoporphyrin IX and
ferrous iron (Fe2+)

7. IRON ABSORPTION
• Iron is mostly found in the foods in ferric (Fe+++)
form
• Iron is converted to the ferrous (Fe++) form which is
soluble and readily absorbed

8. • In Plasma it is again oxidized to Fe+++ form and
combines with transferrin
• Transferred in plasma bound to Transferrin
• One molecule of transferrin binds 2 atoms of iron

11. Mucosal block theory

12. MUCOSAL BLOCK THEORY
FRACTION OF IRON ABSORBED IS DECIDED BY THE IRON
STATUS
• WHEN IRON IS IN EXCESS ABSORPTION IS REDUCED IN
MUCOSAL CELLS AND
• WHEN IRON IS LESS , IRON ABSORPTION IS ENHANCED
IN MUCOSAL CELLS
• THIS IS WHY WE CALL IT MUCOSAL BLOCK

13. Factors decreasing iron absorption
Phytates and
phosphate
Antacid,
achlorhydria
Gastrointestinal
diseases
Factors increasing iron absorption
Ferrous form Ascorbic acid Cysteine HCl

14. Storage Form
Ferritin Hemosiderin
Storage Site
Liver Intestine Spleen Bone marrow

15. • Iron (Fe+++) + Apoferritin = Ferritin
• Stored as Ferritin in RE cells and hepatocytes
• Ferritin present in plasma is an index of iron stores of
the body

16. • Excessive iron causes aggregation /denaturation of
ferritin molecule to form hemosiderin
• Mobilization of iron from hemosiderin is very slow
• Thus there is accumulation of hemosiderin, the
condition is called hemosiderosis

17. CAUSES OF IRON DEFICIENCY
• Reduced dietary intake
• Malnutrition
• Hemolysis
• Children who are on milk diet only are prone to iron deficiency
• Chronic bleeding, irregular menstrual cycles
• Peptic ulcer, piles (haemorrhoids)
• Hook worm infection
• Repeated malarial infections

18. • Deficiency leads
• Iron deficiency anaemia or hypochromic microcytic
anaemia
• It is associated with low hemoglobin and ferritin

19. IRON OVERLOAD
Iron stores may be increased due to:
• Excessive absorption
• Parental iron therapy
• Repeated transfusion
Cells start to fill with hemosiderin

20. IRON OVERLOAD
Two broad types:
• Hemochromatosis: Iron overload associated with injury to
cells
• Hemosiderosis: Iron overload without injury to cells