Iron belongs to the group of trace elements; it is an integral part of important hemoproteins in the body, and it is transported in the circulation bound to transferrin.
Iron participates in a number of important processes in the body. Starting from cellular oxidative mechanisms to the transport and delivery of oxygen to body cells.
It is an integral part of chromoproteins for oxygen transport, hemoglobin, and myoglobin, as well as various enzymes such as cytochrome oxidase and peroxidase.
The remaining iron in the body is found in flavoproteins, iron-sulfate proteins as well as in the stored form – ferritin and the transport form transferrin.
The measured concentration of iron in serum refers primarily to Fe (III) bound to serum transferrin and does not indicate the iron found in the serum in free hemoglobin. Fasting iron measurement is recommended.
Benefits
Ion – contributes to the reduction of fatigue and exhaustion, normal function of the immune system.
Normal energy-generating metabolism, normal cognitive function, normal formation of red blood cells and hemoglobin, and normal oxygen transport in the body.
Reference values
Men: 11-32 μmol/L
Women: 8-30 μmol/L
High iron values
Increased iron values can be found in hemochromatosis, hemosiderosis, aplastic pernicious and hemolytic anemia, sickle cell disease, thalassemia, acute hepatitis, acute and chronic iron poisoning, and lead poisoning.
Low iron values
Decreased values occur in anemia caused by iron deficiency, then less important in acute and chronic infections, malignant diseases, and nephrotic syndrome.