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Human iron metabolism

Human iron metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that maintain human homeostasis of iron at the systemic and cellular level. Iron is both necessary to the body and potentially toxic. Controlling iron levels in the body is a critically important part of many aspects of human health and disease. Hematologists have been especially interested in systemic iron metabolism, because iron is essential for red blood cells, where most of the human body's iron is contained. Understanding iron metabolism is also important for understanding diseases of iron overload, such as hereditary hemochromatosis, and iron deficiency, such as iron-deficiency anemia.

Increased demand for iron, which the diet cannot accommodate.

Increased loss of iron (usually through loss of blood).

Nutritional deficiency. This can result due to a lack of dietary iron or consumption of foods that inhibit iron absorption. Absorption inhibition has been observed caused by in bran,[37] calcium from supplements or dairy products,[38] and tannins from tea,[39] although in all three of these studies the effect was small and the authors of the studies cited regarding bran and tea note that the effect will probably only have a noticeable impact when most iron is obtained from vegetable sources.

phytates

Acid-reducing medications: Acid-reducing medications reduce the absorption of dietary iron. These medications are commonly used for gastritis, reflux disease, and ulcers. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), , and antacids will reduce iron metabolism.[40]

H2 antihistamines

Damage to the intestinal lining. Examples of causes of this kind of damage include surgery involving the duodenum or diseases like or celiac sprue which severely reduce the surface area available for absorption. Helicobacter pylori infections also reduce the availability of iron.[41]

Crohn's

Inflammation leading to hepcidin-induced restriction on iron release from enterocytes (see above).

Is also a common occurrence in pregnant women, and in growing adolescents due to poor diets.

Acute blood loss or acute liver cirrhosis creates a lack of transferrin therefore causing iron to be secreted from the body.

Iron in biology

A comprehensive NIH factsheet on iron and nutrition

Iron Disorders Institute: A nonprofit group concerned with iron disorders; site has helpful links and information on iron-related medical disorders.

An interactive medical learning portal on iron metabolism

Information about iron outside the body