Explain iron balance and regulation of iron absorption, Biology

Assignment Help:

Explain Iron Balance and Regulation of Iron Absorption?

The body has three unique mechanisms for maintaining iron balance. The first is the continuous reutilization of iron from catabolized erythrocytes in the body. When an erythrocyte dies after about 120 days, it is usually degraded by the macrophages of the reticular endothelium. The iron is released and delivered to transferrin in the plasma, which brings the iron back to red blood cell precursors in the bone marrow or to other cells in different tissues. Uptake and distribution of iron in the body is regulated by the synthesis of transferrin receptors on the cell surface. This system for internal iron transpoi-t not only controls the rate of flow of iron to different tissues according to their needs, but also effectively prevents the appearance of free iron and the formation of free radicals in the circulation.

The re-utilization of iron is a highly significant process. As mentioned earlier, the red blood cells (erythrocytes) contain two thirds of the total body iron. If 1/120th of this is to be degraded daily, (note: life span of erythrocytes is 120 days) it results in the release of about 20 mg of iron daily within the body. Almost all of this is re-utilized for the synthesis of new haelnoglobin and erythrocytes. Only an extremely small proportion i.e., about 1 mg is lost from the body to be replaced by dietary iron. The amount of iron released from erythrocytes and re-utilized for new haemoglobin is termed as iron turnover in the body. The second mechanism involves access to the specific storage protein, ferritin. This protein stores iron in periods of relatively low need and releases it to meet excessive iron demands. This iron reservoir is especially important in the third trimester of pregnancy. The third mechanism involves the regulation of absorption of iron from the intestines; decreasing body iron stores trigger increased iron absorption and increasing iron stores trigger decreased iron absorption. Iron absorption decreases until equilibrium is established between absorption and requirement.

 


Related Discussions:- Explain iron balance and regulation of iron absorption

Explain diabetic diets, Explain Diabetic  diets Diabetic  diets :  Th...

Explain Diabetic  diets Diabetic  diets :  There  are  therapeutic modification  in  the  quantity1 quality of  various macronutrients  particularly carbohydrates.

Explain what is probing depth, Q. Explain What is Probing Depth? This p...

Q. Explain What is Probing Depth? This parameter is applicable to one stage implants when they are evaluated prior to prosthetic phase and used to evaluate the health of the im

Syngamy, Syngamy The pollen tube grows to a very limited extent in the...

Syngamy The pollen tube grows to a very limited extent in the synergid. It releases the contents either through a terminal or a subterminal pore. The contents include the two

Slim mold, what is the cycle of slime moldand thier structure

what is the cycle of slime moldand thier structure

Determine the patellar reflex, How is it explained that a person with the s...

How is it explained that a person with the spinal cord sectioned at the cervical level is still able to perform the patellar reflex? The arch reflex depends only on the integr

Explain identifying features of rhizopus - food microbiology, Explain Ident...

Explain Identifying features of Rhizopus? Macroscopically Rhizopus appears as a white cottony mass (look at rhizopus growth on media above) growing rapidly and spread over enti

Principles of nursing care, 1. Discuss how nursing has changed over the las...

1. Discuss how nursing has changed over the last two (2) decades. 2. Review and summarise the philosophy of your enrolled nurse course and its relevance to your clinical practic

Explain nutrition diagnosis, Explain Nutrition diagnosis Nutrition dia...

Explain Nutrition diagnosis Nutrition diagnosis is the identification and labelling that describes an actual occurrence, risk of, or potential for developing a nutrition probl

ANIMAL TRANSPORT SYSTEM, WWHAT ARE THE ORGANS THAT ARE INVOLVDED IN THE TRA...

WWHAT ARE THE ORGANS THAT ARE INVOLVDED IN THE TRANSPORTTATION SYSTEM OF ANIMALS

What is the meaning of body composition, What is the meaning of Body compos...

What is the meaning of Body composition? It refers primarily to the distribution of muscle, fat, bone and other tissues in the body, and its measurement is often considered as

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd