Iron Levels In Blood

Iron is an essential mineral for life. It is found in red blood cells of the body and is also necessary to produce red blood cells.

Most iron in the body is attached to hemoglobin molecules in red blood cells carry oxygen to all tissues of the body. Hemoglobin is the key protein in red blood cells and represents about two-thirds of body iron. When red cells die, the iron is recycled in the bone marrow to be reused in new red blood cells.

Myoglobin is a heme-containing protein that is involved in the transport and storage of oxygen.

Purpose of iron -

# Iron is found in hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells carry oxygen, which can leave the lungs, so it can be done to body parts that need it. Therefore, its main role is to transport oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.

# To facilitate the process of iron metabolism and is crucial for the body to regulate temperature.

# Of iron is part of myoglobin, which helps muscle cells store oxygen. Without enough iron, ATP

(Adenosine triphosphate - the fuel the body runs on) can not be properly synthesized.

Iron # prevents fatigue and promotes good skin tone.

# It increases resistance to stress and disease.

Iron deficiency -

If the amount of iron in the body become below normal, the iron deficiency anemia may occur. It is characterized by weakness, fatigue, muscle fatigue, and shortness of breath. In severe cases, the skin of a person may become pale due to a lack of red blood cells in the body.

In children, iron deficiency is usually the result of an inadequate iron intake.

In adults, iron deficiency is most often due to chronic blood loss, such as during heavy menstruation in women, intestinal bleeding peptic ulcers, cancer or hemorrhoids.

People with kidney failure, particularly those treated by dialysis, are at high risk for iron deficiency anemia.

Vitamin A helps mobilize iron from its storage sites, so a deficiency in vitamin A limits the body's ability to use stored iron.

Signs of iron deficiency anemia -

# Feeling tired and weak

# Difficulty maintaining body temperature

# Insomnia

# Decreased immune function, increasing susceptibility to infection

# Glossitis (inflammation and pain language)

# Eating substances such as dirt, (referred to as pica or geophagia)

Who all need extra iron supplements to prevent a deficiency?

# Individuals who tend to lose more iron, such as pre-menopausal women

# Of people who do not absorb iron normally

# Pregnant

# Of people who take aspirin

# Premature and low birth weight

# Teen

# Women of childbearing age, especially those with heavy menstrual bleeding

# Of people suffering from kidney failure, especially those on dialysis routine

# Of people suffering from gastrointestinal disorders, which do not absorb iron normally

Recommended Daily Allowance -

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for iron in healthy adults is 10 milligrams per day for men and 15 milligrams per day for premenopausal women. Premenopausal women's needs are greater than the needs of men because women lose lots of iron during menstruation.

Pregnant women should as much as 30 milligrams of iron per day because th.