Importance of Iron(Fe) mineral to the human body, some symptoms of Iron deficiency, people at risk of iron deficiency, the recommended dietary allowance and some symptoms of Iron toxicity.

1. UNIVERSITY OF BUEA REPUBLIC OF CAMEROON
PEACE – WORK – FATHERLAND
Iron(Fe) Mineral
Presented
By
Arreyetta Bawak Augustine
M.Sc. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Coordinated
By
Prof. Achidi Aduni and Dr. TiencheuBernard
Senior Lecturers of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science

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Outline
• Introduction
• Metabolism of Iron
• Sources of Iron
• Functions of Iron
• Iron deficiency symptoms
• Iron regulation
• Recommended dietary allowance for Iron
• People at risk of Iron deficiency
• Iron toxicity

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Minerals
• Minerals are those elements on the earth and in
foods that our bodies need to develop and function
normally.
• Those essential for health include calcium,
phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride,
magnesium, iron, zinc, iodine, chromium,
copper, fluoride, molybdenum, manganese, and
selenium.

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Iron(Fe)

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Introduction
• Iron is a chemical element (symbol Fe) that our bodies
need to function correctly.
• Iron is an important trace mineral which is required by
the body.
• 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.
• Dietitians often divide iron into two types — heme and
nonheme.
• Heme iron is found in animal products while Non
heme iron is plant-based.

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Sources of Iron
• Heme iron is found in: Beef and beef livers
Chicken, especially dark meat and chicken livers,
Turkey, primarily dark meat Light ,canned tuna in
water.
• Non heme iron is found in: Beans such as kidney,
lima, pinto, black, and navy beans, Fermented soy-
based foods such as tofu,Lentils, Nuts and
seeds,Fortified cereals,Spinach,Raisins.

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Metabolism of Iron
• Iron is absorbed by villus enterocytes in the proximal
duodenum.
• Efficient absorption requires an acidic environment.
• Antacids or other conditions that interfere with gastric
acid secretion can interfere with iron absorption.
• As most dietary iron is in the ferric or Fe3+ state, it
must first be reduced before it can be utilized.
• A candidate iron reductase is the brush borderprotein
duodenal cytochrome B (DcytB) aids in this process.

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Metabolism of Iron
• Nonheme iron crosses the apical brush border of
enterocytes through the ferrous iron (Fe2+) transporter
divalent metal ion transporter 1 (DMT1) and enters the
enterocytes.
• Once within the enterocyte, iron has two basic fates
depending on iron requirements.
• If iron demand is low, iron is trapped by incorporation
into ferritin a process medicated by the chaperone poly
binding protein 1(PCBP1) and hence, not transported
into blood. When the enterocyte dies and is shed, this
iron is lost.

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Metabolism of Iron
• If iron is required by the body, it will cross the
basolateral membrane through the iron export
protein ferroportin (FPN) and enter the circulation
in which it binds to plasma transferrin.
• The export of iron requires ferroxidase hephaestin
(HEPH) that oxidizes the Fe2+ to Fe3+.

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Metabolism of Iron
• Uptake of heme iron by enterocytes is not as well
understood.
• Heme carrier protein 1 (HCP1) transports heme;
however, its principal role appears to be the uptake
of folate and its role in heme absorption remains
unclear.
• Once heme is in the enterocytes, the enzyme heme
oxygenase 1(HO-1) is required for releasing iron
from porphyrin ring.
• After which it enters the intracellular iron pool

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Functions of Iron
• Formation of Red blood cells
One of the most important functions of iron is in
heme synthesis, which forms haemoglobin and found
in red blood cells.
• Formation of myoglobin
Myoglobin, a protein found in the muscle cells of
animals. It functions as an oxygen-storage unit,
providing oxygen to the working muscles.

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Functions of Iron
• Iron helps convert food to energy
Human cells require iron in order to convert energy
from food into ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) and
this is the body’s primary energy source.
• Iron helps maintain a normal immune system
Necessary for immune cells proliferation and
maturation, particularly lymphocytes.

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Functions of Iron
• Iron contributes to normal cognitive function
Brain functions such as memory, concentration,
learning and problem solving.

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Iron deficiency
• Anaemia
• Decreased memory, impaired learning and
concentration.
• Impaired immune function
• Breathing difficulties
• Fatigue

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Iron regulation
• The master Iron regulatory process is done by the
systemic signals.
 Systemic signals
Systemic factors influencing blood iron requirements
are detected in the liver and affect the expression of
hepcidin which binds to FPN and hence inhibiting
the flow of iron into the general circulation. Also, it
acts at the spleen macrophages.

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People at risk of deficiency
• People with crohn's disease
This is so since the inflammation of the bowel affects the
digestive tract and hence, affects rate of iron absorption.
Sometimes, bleeding comes along.
• Pregnant women
During pregnancy, your body produces more blood to
support the growth of your baby. If the mother is not
getting enough iron or certain other nutrients, your body
might not be able to produce the amount of red blood
cells it needs to make this additional blood.

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People at risk of deficiency
• People with celiac disease
That's because in celiac disease, eating gluten-
containing foods causes your immune system to
attack the lining of your small intestine, impairing
your ability to absorb nutrients.
• People with ulcerative colitis
Increased iron loss due to gastrointestinal (GI) blood
loss due to ulceration of the large intestine.

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People at risk of deficiency
• Lactating babies
Because breast milk is low in iron, infants exclusively
fed breast milk may also be at risk for iron deficiency.
• Athlete
This is because regular exercise increases the body’s
need for iron in several ways. For example, hard
training promotes red blood cell production (which
requires iron), and iron is lost through sweating.

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People at risk of deficiency
• People who experience a high blood loss
Since iron deficiency easily occurs in situations of
chronic (ongoing) blood loss. Common causes
include heavy menstrual periods, regular blood
donation, regular nosebleeds and certain medications,
particularly aspirin.

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Iron toxicity
• Iron overdose happens when you take too much iron
in the form of supplements.
• Iron is toxic in large amounts and can be fatal at
high doses.
• Symptoms develop within 6 hours.
• Among the initial signs of iron poisoning are nausea
and abdominal pain and can also lead to diarrhea
and dehydration.

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Iron toxicity
• After those early symptoms, other serious complications
can develop within 48 hours after the iron overdose,
such as:
Dizziness
Low blood pressure and a fast or weak pulse,
Headache,
Fever,
Shortness of breath and fluid in the lungs,
A grayish or bluish color in the skin, jaundice
Seizures.

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References
• Australian Red cross Lifeblood at
https://transfusion.com.au/transfusion_practice/anae
mia_management/iron_deficiency_anaemia/clinical
_consequences.
• Britannica at
https://www.britannica.com/science/myoglobin.
• My Food diary at
https://www.myfooddiary.com/nutrients/iron.

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References
• Spatone at https://www.spatone.com/en/about-
iron/the-role-of-iron-in-the-body.
• A health philosophy
• Gregory J. Andersona David M. Frazera and
Gordon D. McLarenb. Iron absorption and
metabolism 2009.
• Absorption of Minerals and Metals. Vivo
Pathophysiology.
• Stephanie Watson. Iron Poisoning 2018.

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References
• Iron deficiency - adult. Deakin University at
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/condition
sandtreatments/iron-deficiency-adults (2020).