Can accurately reflect the body s iron storage

What reflects the total body storage iron level in enterocytes?

The total body storage iron level is reflected in the storage iron level in enterocytes. 56, 57, 60) Iron entering the enterocytes via intestine becomes intracellular labile iron 61) temporarily and is synthesized into ferritin and hemosiderin in the enterocytes.

How does storage iron increase?

Storage iron may be increased in two ways. The first mechanism results from the inability of the body to excrete significant amounts of iron. Because of this, any decrease in circulating red cell iron (any anemia other than blood loss or iron deficiency anemia) is accompanied by a shift of iron to the tissue compartment.

Where is total body iron found?

Most total body iron is found within heme, predominantly as hemoglobin of erythroid cells and myoglobin of muscle with lesser amounts within enzymatic hemoproteins. A significant amount of total body iron can also be in storage. Within cells, the most important iron storage protein is ferritin. Much of stored iron is present within hepatocytes.

Where is iron stored in the body?

While most of the physiologically active iron is bound hemoglobin, the major storage of most iron occurs in the liver in a ferritin-bound fashion.

What is storage iron?

Storage iron is defined as tissue iron which is available for hemoglobin synthesis when the need arises. This iron is stored intracellularly in protein complex as ferritin and hemosiderin. It would appear that wherever the cell is functionally intact, such iron is available for general body needs.

Does storage iron affect body iron metabolism?

On the basis of experimental and clinical observations and a review of the literature, a concept of the behavior of storage iron in relation to body iron metabolism has been formulated. Storage iron is defined as tissue iron which is available for hemoglobin synthesis when the need arises.