Description

Anaemia is estimated to affect approximately
two billion people worldwide of which 50% has
been attributed to iron deficiency.1 Iron plays an
essential role in the bodys metabolism. It is the
element integral to most cell functions. However
the body must protect itself from free excess iron as
the free element is highly toxic through its
participation in chemical reactions with end product
free radicals. The balance of iron metabolism in man
is therefore tightly controlled and designed to
conserve iron and re-utilize it (Harrisons, 16the).
Body iron exists as essential iron; used in
processes of normal function and stored iron.2 Irondeficiency
is defined as a reduced total body iron.
The bone marrow produces 2 to 3 million red
blood cells (RBCs) per second and this requires a
continuous and uninterrupted supply of iron. Since
each milliliter (cm3) of RBCs contains 1mg of
elemental iron, the amount of iron needed to
replace those RBC lost through senescence reaches
16 to 20 mgs per day (assuming the adults RBCs
mass is 2L).
Normally the only route by which iron comes
into the human body is via absorption from food.
Humans are capable to absorb best heme iron;
however, our diet shifts to cereal staples has
significantly decreased our intake causing many to
become iron deficient.2 The daily absorption of iron
for a 70kg male in the western world is 15mgs per
day and reaches 11mgs for an average female. Iron
absorption takes place largely in the proximal small
bowel and is facilitated by the stomachs acidic
contents.