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MINERALS �IRON

Dr. Ashish Agravatt ,

MBBS, MD.

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IRON

Sources

RDA

Metabolism

Functions

Disorders

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IRON - SOURCES

Green leafy vegetables

Liver and meat

Egg

Jaggery

Pulses

Cereals

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IRON - RDA

10-20 mg/day

Adult

40mg/day

Pregnancy

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IRON - METABOLISM

Absorption

Transport

Storage

Excretion

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IRON - ABSORPTION

Site

Small intestine

Forms

Heme

Non-haem

Efficiency

About 10% of total food iron is absorbed

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FACTORS AFFECTING IRON ABSORPTION

Factors decreasing iron absorption

Phytates and phosphate

Antacid, achlorhydria

Gastrointestinal diseases

Factors increasing iron absorption

Ferrous form

Ascorbic acid

Cysteine

HCl

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MECHANISM OF IRON ABSORPTION

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Ferric Iron

Fe+++

Ferrous Iron

Fe++

Heme iron

Vit C

Ferric reductase

Fe++

Fe+++

Ferritin

Apoferritin

Heme iron

Fe++

Fe++

Fe+++

Transferrin

Fe+++

Lumen

Mucosal cell

Blood

Ceruloplasmin

Apotransferrin

Ferroxidase

Ferroreductase

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( divalent metal transporter 1)

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REGULATION OF IRON ABSORPTION

Mucosal block theory

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STORAGE OF IRON

Storage Form

Ferritin

Hemosiderin

Storage Site

Liver

Intestine

Spleen

Bone marrow

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EXCRETION OF IRON

Normal excretion

Very little

About 1mg/day

Stool

0.7mg/day

Physiological loss

Menstruation

20-30mg/cycle

Delivery

750mg

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FUNCTIONS OF IRON

Heme compounds

Non-haem compounds

Iron is a component of several functionally important compounds

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FUNCTIONS OF IRON

Haem compounds

Haemoglobin

Myoglobin

Cytochrome

Catalase

Non-haem compounds

Succinate dehydrogenase

Xanthine oxidase

Iron sulfur proteins

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DISORDERS OF IRON METABOLISM

Iron deficiency

Iron excess

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IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA

Causes

Features

Lab findings

Treatment

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IRON DEFICIENCY - CAUSES

Decreased intake of iron

Malnutrition

Decreased absorption of iron

Achlorhydria and chronic diarrhea

Increased loss of Iron

Bleeding, hookworm infestation

Increased iron requirement

Pregnancy, infancy

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IRON DEFICIENCY – FEATURES

Pallor

Fatigue

Dizziness

Dyspnea

Palpitation

Angular stomatitis

Pica

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Clinical Presentation

  • Iron-deficiency anemia can cause:
  • brittle nails

  • cracks in the sides of the mouth

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  • Extreme fatigue (tiredness)

  • chest pain

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  • Pale skin

  • Dizziness or lightheadedness

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  • Fast heart rate

  • Headache

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IRON DEFICIENCY – LAB FINDINGS

Hematological findings

Decreased hemoglobin

Microcytic hypochromic anemia

Biochemical findings

Decreased serum iron

Increased serum total iron binding capacity

Decreased plasma ferritin

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IRON DEFICIENCY – TREATMENT

Treatment of underlying causes

Treating

Hookworm

Controlling bleeding

Administration of iron preparations

Orally

I.V

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TREATMENT

IRON SUPPLEMENT

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IRON OVERLOAD

Haemosiderosis

Increase in iron stores as haemosiderin

Without associated with tissue injury

Haemochromatosis

Excessive deposition of iron in the tissue

Associated with tissue injury

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