Iron plays a key role in the human body. It is one of the main constituent of our red blood cells and the muscles that help in transportation of oxygen. Iron deficiency is common in both men and women, with women being more pron to this illness. Anaemia is one of the most common effects of iron deficiency.proper intake of dietary iron and iron supplements, as necessary, goes a long way in maintaining a health body.
Importance of Iron in human body
- Iron is of great importance to the human body.
- About 60% of the iron in the body is in the form of circulating iron in the red blood cells in blood.
- Most of the rest is in the form of stored iron.
Functions of Iron
- Formation of haemoglobin in the red blood cells.
- Normal development and functioning of the brain.
- It is a constituent of the muscle protein known as myoglobin.
- Iron is necessary for the normal production of antibodies and white blood cells in the body.
- As a component of haemoglobin, its primary function is transport of oxygen in the red blood cells from the lungs to the various organs and tissues in the body.
Deficiency of iron in the body leads to a condition known as iron deficiency anaemia, which is characterised by a lower than normal level of haemoglobin in blood and also by a reduced haematocrit (MCHC – Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Count) value. The main causes of iron deficiency are:
- Increased loss in the form of loss of blood, which may be as a result of some normal conditions such as:
- Menstruation
- Childbirth
- Increased loss in some diseases like gastric ulcers, etc.
- Increased requirement , during growth and pregnancy.
Sources of Dietary Iron
- dietary iron is available in both animal and plant foodstuffs
- The bioavailability of iron in animal foodstuffs is better than that in plant foods.
- The absorption of iron from the small intestine is facilitated by the presence of ascorbic acid.
- The absorption of iron also increases when the requirement of iron is more.
- The absorption is impaired by milk, eggs, tea and the ‘ phytates’ and ‘oxalates’ present in vegetable fibres.
- Some diseases of absorption like coeliac disease, sprue also impair the absorption of iron.
- Milk is a very poor source of iron, which is the reason for iron deficiency in children in whom weaning off milk is delayed and not proper
Sources of Iron Supplements
- Available in the form of ferrous sulphate tablets.
- these tablets normally contain 200 mg of the salt and 60 mg of elemental iron
- the usual dosage is 1 tablet to be taken thrice daily
- normally taken after regular meals as they may cause dyspepsia in a small proportionof patients
- in some patients they may cause constipation.
- Some patients may require injections in the form of iron-sorbitol or iron-dextran.
|
