Iron is the central component in heme. Iron deficiency leads to hypochromic microcytic anemia with decreased MCH and MCV.
It is often considered a symptom rather than a diagnosis, and the etiology must be found, especially in young females.
Iron metabolism
- Iron is an essential nutrient; it is absorbed from our diet using ferroportin transporters.
- Typical iron intake is 10-15mg/day, out of which 10-15% are absorbed.
- The absorbed amount can increase in iron deficiency.
- In the blood, it is transported bound to transferrin (binds up to 2 iron atoms).
- It is then stored mainly in the liver and in RBCs:
- Hemoglobin (RBCs)
- Ferritin (liver, with a small amount in the serum)
- Smaller amounts in other tissues of the body (as hemosiderin, myoglobin, and enzymes).
- Its excretion is minimal (through the skin, blood, and stool)
- Hepcidin decreases ferroportin activity, decreasing iron absorption
- Hepcidin levels are elevated during inflammation
- During iron overload, ferritin levels increase while transferrin receptors decrease, while the