role of iron in the body, risks of deficiency and excess, foods rich in iron

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The Role of Iron in the Body: Understanding Its Importance
It is impossible to overstate the importance of iron for the body. One of the most crucial trace elements is this one. which is necessary primarily for the delivery of oxygen to organs and muscles. Continue the article to learn about the role of iron in the body. risks of deficiency and excess, and foods rich in iron

Both a deficiency and an excess of excess iron are dangerous to health. and indicate the presence of diseases, including Hereditary ones. Controlling the level of iron in the blood is important for pregnancy. together with nursing mothers and elite athletes. and people involved in hazardous and hazardous industries.

Iron's function in the body

The body needs iron, which is a crucial ingredient. It is a component of hemoglobin, the molecule that transports oxygen in the blood. Hemoglobin is also made with the help of iron. a protein that carries oxygen to tissues. Iron is a compound of two metals, iron and zinc.

Iron is involved in a variety of processes in the body. from oxygen transport (transport in the blood) to DNA synthesis.

Hemoglobin is made with the help of iron. which supplies muscles with oxygen.

Disorders of iron metabolism can have a variety of clinical manifestations. including anemia and hemochromatosis.

Maintaining normal iron levels in the mother's body is vital during pregnancy. and during breastfeeding to prevent the development of anemia in the infant. For this reason. the diet should be balanced and contain animals. and vegetable products rich in iron.

The rate of iron in the human body

The normal (reference) levels of iron in the blood serum are :

• In newborns and children under one year - 5-22 micromol / L. 
• In children from 1 to 16 years old - 4.5 - 20 micromol / L. 
• In girls from 16 to 18 years old - 6-18 mEq / L.
• In boys aged 16 to 18 years - 5-25 mEq / L. 
• In adult women - 6-26 mEq / L.
• In adult men - 11-28 micromol/liter.

Daily consumption rates :

• Children up to 6 months old: 0.27 mg,
• Infants from 7 to 12 months - 11 mg.
• Children aged 1-3 years: 7 mg, 
• Children from 4 to 8 years: 10 mg. 
• Children between the ages of 9 and 13: 8 mg,
• Boys aged 14 to 18 years - 11 mg.
• Girls from 14 to 18 should take 15 mg,
• Adult men - 8 mg. 
• Adult women - 18 mg,
• Pregnant women-27 mg. 
• Lactating women - 9-10 mg.

How the body absorbs iron

Iron in the human body is found mainly in the composition of blood proteins - hemoglobin and myoglobin. which are in charge of oxygen transportation. Iron is necessary for the synthesis of these proteins. as well as for the formation of enzymes that participate in electron transfer. and redox reactions in metabolic processes.

The body of an adult male contains about 4 grams of iron, about two-thirds of which is hemoglobin. a quarter is ferritin (the protein in which iron is stored in the liver, spleen. and bone marrow). and the rest is myoglobin from muscle tissue and various enzymes.

Iron enters the body with food, is absorbed in the small intestine, and is delivered to tissues with the help of transferrin. a protein in the blood that traps and transports iron ions.

There must be a constant balance between the absorption. storage, use, and loss of iron.

The digestibility of the element is regulated mainly at the moment of absorption and can vary from 5 to 35%. Iron, which enters the body with food, occurs in two forms - in the heme composition and in the non-heme form. Meat is mostly where you can find heme iron. poultry. and fish, while non-heme iron is found in plant products (cereals, nuts, seeds, legumes). Heme iron is characterized by high bioavailability (absorption percentage) - 15-35%, non - heme-2-20%.

In addition to losses due to bleeding. part of the iron is lost during desquamation - exfoliation of cells from epithelial tissues (skin, genitourinary system. gastrointestinal tract).

Lack of iron in the body

Iron deficiency is a condition in which the supply of iron to tissues is disrupted and there are no iron stores in the body (ferritin).

Even mild and moderate forms of deficiency can cause developmental disorders in the child's body and a decrease in cognitive functions. diseases of the immune system, and decreased working capacity.

Iron deficiency during pregnancy is dangerous for both the mother and the baby, as it increases the risk of sepsis, and premature birth. maternal death. and low birth weight babies.

The symptoms of iron deficiency are atypical and therefore cannot be diagnosed. Typical signs include:

• energy deficit and exhaustion
• Shortness of breath
• The heart.
• Pale skin
• Headache
• Tinnitus.
• Taste abnormalities
• Eager, eager.
• hair fall
• Dysphagia is the inability to swallow.
• Sores in the corners of the mouth.

Causes of iron deficiency include:

• Insufficient intake of bioavailable iron from food. 
• Increased need for iron as a result of the rapid growth of the child. 
• Menstruating heavily when pregnant.
• Excessive blood loss in the gastrointestinal tract, for example, is caused by infection with parasites, hookworms, and whipworms (helminths).
• Malabsorption of iron.

treatment for a lack of iron

If the blood test shows a low red blood cell count, the doctor prescribes iron tablets. It is necessary to take them until repeated examinations. show that the level of iron in the body has returned to normal.

In no case should you self-medicate and take iron supplements without a doctor's prescription. First, you need to undergo an examination. and confirm the diagnosis.

Excess iron in the body

Iron, like other micro and macro elements, is available in the form of supplements, but its use should be prescribed by a doctor and monitored. Dietary supplements should not be used only in case of implicit symptoms of deficiency. since excess iron is dangerous for the body. In healthy people, taking high doses is. especially on an empty stomach, can lead to nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and abdominal pain. diarrhea, or constipation.

Excess iron in the body can also lead to inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis) and ulcers, reducing the absorption of zinc. Iron poisoning (doses up to several hundred milligrams). causes organ failure, coma, and death. The maximum allowable dose of iron for healthy people is 40 mg for children up to 13 years old and 45 mg for those over 14 years old.

Some people have a genetic condition called hemochromatosis

 a disorder in which iron accumulates in the tissues of the body, especially in the tissues of the liver, heart, and pancreas. Hemochromatosis in 90% of cases is caused by hereditary diseases. It leads to an excess of iron being absorbed by the body from the food ingested.

Excess iron in the body can harm internal organs and lead to cirrhosis. liver cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

Symptoms of iron overload:

• Joint pain
• Fatigue
• Darkening of the skin.
• Diabetes million
• Violation of the heart rhythm.
• Sexual dysfunction.

Pathology is diagnosed using a blood test that shows an increased iron content in the blood and a high level of ferritin. Genetic analysis can confirm hereditary hemochromatosis. Additionally, a liver biopsy may be performed.

Treatment of excess iron in the body at an early stage includes avoiding foods rich in iron, and iron supplements. vitamin C (because it improves the absorption of iron from food), and drinking alcohol.

More severe cases of the disease and iron poisoning require its artificial removal from the blood by phlebotomy (therapeutic bloodletting). with subsequent monitoring of the level of iron in the blood.

What foods contain iron

Product content, mg per 100 g of product :

• Cereals 49.5
• Beef 39.4
• Lamb 38.7
• Foie gras 30.5.
• Seaweed 28.5
• Pork 22.2
• Rice 18.5
• Soybeans 15.7
• Sesame 14.5.
• White beans 10.4
• Chick 10.3

 According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's food database.

a summary

Iron is a nutrient that is necessary for all living things. Free iron is found in the form of a metal-hydroxide, readily replaced by the body. However, the body cannot fully eliminate iron from the body and excess iron is toxic. Iron is known to be anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial.

The primary role of iron is to serve as an essential component of all biological systems, and the human body is no exception. Like any other protein, iron is essential for life. In addition to its role. as a catalyst, iron is an essential nutrient for cell growth and the production of enzymes. The body also stores iron as ferritin, an iron storage protein.