Iron Metabolism

Front 1

What is the normal daily requirement of iron?

Back 1

20-25 mg

Front 2

What type of anemia is resultant of iron deficiency?

Back 2

Microcytic Anemia

Front 3

What factors contribute to increasing the absorption of iron from the GI Tract?

Back 3

Acids (HCl and Vit. C), Inorganic Iron, Ferrous Iron, Agents that solubilize iron: Sugar, Amino Acids, Iron Deficiency, Increased Demand: Pregnancy, Infancy, Adolescence, Haemolysis, bleeding, Primary Haemochromatosis

Front 4

What factors can lead to a decrease in he amount of iron absorbed from the GIT?

Back 4

Alkalis, Antacids, Organic Iron, Ferric Iron, Agents that precipitate iron, phytates (ionic form of phytic acids) which is found in tea, excess iron, decreased utilisation (inflammation, infection), gastrectomy, GIT abnormalities, achlorhydria.

Front 5

What is achlorhydria?

Back 5

Absence of HCl in the stomach.

Front 6

What is Primary Haemochromatosis

Back 6

It is an autosomal recessive disease that causes abnormal accumulation of iron in parenchymal organs in the form of hemosiderin. It causes organ toxicity and damage and is the most common cause of severe iron overload.

Front 7

What percent of the body's iron is used in hemoglobin?

Back 7

60-70%

Front 8

What percent of the body's iron is stored as ferritin or hemosiderin?

Back 8

16-29%

Front 9

What percent of the body's iron is used functionally (i.e. as catalase, myoglobin, cytochrome, etc.)

Back 9

10-12%

Front 10

What are some common causes of iron deficiency?

Back 10

1. Chronic blood loss as caused by uterine or GIT bleeding by peptic ulcer, carcinoma, hookworm, piles, aspirin or other non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and also rarely by Haematuria.

2. Increased demand has caused by prematurity, growth, childbearing.

3. Malabsorption as caused by gastrectomy, Coeliac diseases.

4. Poor Diet.

Front 11

What is a Coeliac disease?

Back 11

A condition where the small intestines is inflamed and unable to absorb nutrients.

Front 12

What is Apparent Anemia?

Back 12

This is form of anemia that results from acute blood loss. It is due the body producing large quantities of plasma to replace loss blood, which results in a reduction in the conc. of RBCs.

Front 13

What is caeruloplasmin?

Back 13

It is a copper-containing enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of iron into its ferric form for binding to plasma transferrin.

Front 14

Which enzyme, found in enterocytes, converts ferric iron into ferrous iron so that they can be absorbed from the GIT?

Back 14

Ferrireductase

Front 15

Which enzyme found inside enterocytes converts ferrous iron into ferric iron so that it can be bound to transferrin?

Back 15

Hephaestin (Ferrioxidase)