Iron is a micronutrient that plays an important role in the body. It is one of the parts of hemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells that helps blood carry oxygen throughout the body. It is primarily involved in the transfer of oxygen from the lungs to tissues. Hemoglobin and functions of iron patient education. It is extracted from the earth and its appearance is generally lustrous with a metallic grey tinge to it. Iron helps produce red blood cells, which help transport oxygen to different parts of the body, and is involved in energy metabolism. Iron performs many important functions in the body. However, because it is present in the diet in much larger quantities than is haem iron, it is an important source of this mineral.
The body requires iron for the synthesis of its oxygen transport proteins, in particular hemoglobin and myoglobin, and for the formation of heme enzymes and other iron containing enzymes involved in electron transfer and oxidationreductions. Solomons and jacob found that high doses of inorganic iron decreased zinc uptake as measured by changes in plasma zinc over the next 4 h after an oral dose. In contrast to haem iron, our body doesnt absorb nonhaem iron as easily. It is for this reason that one of the first symptoms of low body iron stores is tiredness and fatigue. Still, the body needs far less sodium than the average person actually consumes and the importance of sodium is negated when too much of the salty stuff fills the bloodstream. Iron also plays an important role in specific processes within the cell that produce the energy for our body. In this article we will discuss about the metabolism of iron in human body with the help of suitable diagram. Myoglobin, in muscle cells, accepts, stores, transports and. In this tutorial, we will describe the importance of one essential trace element in the body, iron. Have meat, seafood, spinach, and beans to maintain optimum iron levels but dont have more than 18 mg iron a day. And even a minor overload of the mineral manganese can worsen iron deficiency. Learn about its functions, recommended intake, and side effects here. Iron is one of the important elements necessary for. Pdf calcium and its role in human body researchgate.
It is essential for the production of the proteins involved in oxygen transport and in the regulation of cell development. Human adults were administered 25 mg of zinc as zinc sulfate znso4 in water solution, and iron was added at. Role of iron in human health university of pittsburgh. Its latin name is ferrum because of which its symbol is fe. Iron is an essential element for most life on earth, including human beings by participating in a wide variety of metabolic processes, including oxygen transport, dna synthesis, and electron transport. Sodium not only helps maintain healthy fluid balance, it also contributes to proper muscle contraction and nerve impulse conduction. A deficiency may be caused by iron deficiency anemia or anemia associated with chronic disease. You may have learned about the importance of iron for women, especially those who are pregnant and breastfeeding, but this key nutrient is just as.
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. The importance of minerals in the long term health of humans. Iron is a mineral vital to the proper function of hemoglobin, a protein needed to transport oxygen in the blood. The definition of iron deficiency is a shortage in the total content of iron in the body, which.
Our bodies continually lose iron through everyday processes such as urination, defecation, sweating, and sloughing off skin cells. Fundamental iron skills home tambuli media mindbody. Iron deficiency iron and its important role in the body. Proper iron consumption around the world is extremely important. 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. Dec 22, 2012 getting enough iron is of vital importance to the body.
If the iron content of our blood falls, we may feel tired or have reduced energy, and our immune system becomes impaired. In fact, according to world health organisation who figures, countries. Hemoglobin and functions of iron patient education ucsf. The interplay of micronutrients isnt always cooperative, however. Myoglobin takes oxygen from the haemoglobin and supplies it to various muscles in order to make them function properly.
An essential mineral for athletic performance jena walther, ms july 24, 2015 0 trained athletes and clients alike are monitoring their intakes and percentages of critical fuels carbohydrates, fats, and protein but are potentially falling short on their micronutrient needs. However, iron also plays a role in metabolism as a component of. Iron is found in myoglobin, which is a muscle protein. Daily intakes of several minerals are necessary for the continued basic functioning of the human body. You may have learned about the importance of iron for women, especially those who are pregnant and breastfeeding, but this key nutrient is just as important for babies as they grow and develop.
The potential interaction between iron and zinc has been a cause of concern. Because iron plays such a crucial role in the body, it is important for us to maintain an adequate supply of iron. Vitamin c aids absorption, whereas as tannins and phytates inhibit. Its very essential for the proper growth and development of human body.
Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate, an important b vitamin. It is vital for both physical health and mental wellbeing. Mar 11, 2020 folic acid is the synthetic form of folate, an important b vitamin. Iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency in the world and can lead to anaemia. Recreational and competitive athletes are starting to understand the role that iron plays in correlation with energy levels and performance. One of the main roles of iron is to help our red blood cells transport oxygen to all parts of the body. Iron in the human body pages with reference to book, from 332 to 334 fatema jawad sughra bai millwalla hospital, karachi.
Importance of iron in the body ironstorage protein and control of the amount of iron in the body structure of ferritin amino acids peptide subunits 24subunit structure removal of fe from ferritin crystallattice mineral structure channels polar vs. An even more important role of iron is in our bodies. Iron is a critical component of steel which makes it a vital element in the world. The majority of remaining iron accumulates in the liver, spleen, and bones. Only a small portion the the iron consumed makes it to the blood stream.
The importance of iron dietary requirements for iron iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional challenges across the globe, and the arab gulf is no exception, where deficiency is particularly common amongst women and children1. Metabolism of iron in human body with diagram biology. What is the importance of iron for the human body lifealth. This type of iron is found in plantbased foods like cereals, vegetables and legumes. For example, vitamin c blocks your bodys ability to assimilate the essential mineral copper. Hemoglobin is essential for transferring oxygen in your blood from the lungs to the tissues. Feb 04, 2017 iron is very important mineral for the human body.
It plays vital role and its little deficiency leads morbidity and death. Review on iron and its importance for human health. 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. Almost twothirds of the bodys iron is found in hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells. An estimated 80% of the world population is iron deficient, according to the world health organization, and as many as 30% may have anemia due to iron deficiency. Mar 21, 2018 what is the importance of iron for the human body.
Importance of iron and folic acid in body iron and folic acid are two major nutrients which are necessary for the entire body to work properly. The minerals, calcium ca, iron fe, copper cu, magnesium mg, manganese mn, and zinc zn are known to be necessary for proper function and growth of the many systems in the human body and thus contribute. Essential for blood production, energy, and cognitive function, the role of iron in our bodies is an important but complex component. Dec 02, 2017 iron is a chemical element which displays the qualities of a metal. Iron also has a role in a variety of other important processes in the body.
Iron is a nutrient thats needed by our body to make red blood cells. Bleeding contributes to further loss of iron from the body. Iron also plays a role in the nervous system, as iron levels impact dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin levels. The importance of iron kelloggs nutrition healthcare. Iron also plays a key role in immunity, nerve, and brain function. Iron is a mineral critical for the growth of all cells. The importance of mineral elements for humans, domestic. About 70 percent of your body s iron is found in the red blood cells of your blood called hemoglobin and in muscle cells called myoglobin. Role of iron in human health arun malik and hariom yadav national agrifood biotechnology institute, mohali, punjab, india email.
Apr 16, 2018 iron helps produce red blood cells, which help transport oxygen to different parts of the body, and is involved in energy metabolism. Iron is one of the important elements necessary for the metabolism of the human body. It also enables the red blood cells to transport oxygen throughout within your entire body. Iron is not only needed in the body for overall health, but it plays a bigger role for athletes. Most of the iron in the body is present in the erythrocytes as haemoglobin, a molecule composed of four units. 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. Jul 23, 2017 iron is a critical component of steel which makes it a vital element in the world. Iron is an essential nutrient with a range of critically important functions in the body and brain.
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