image
MetabolismDetails Banner
image

The Irony Of Iron Regulation And Iron Metabolism



 

Iron is a very important element that no human being could live without. It is an essential part of every living thing because it is both an electron acceptor and an electron donor, which is a characteristic unique to iron. Iron can be found in many different food sources because both plants and animals use it.

In the typical developed country, the average person has approximately three to four grams of iron in their blood stream. Two-and-a-half grams of this iron is located in the hemoglobin, which carries oxygen all through the blood.

Cellular proteins use four hundred milligrams of the iron for cell processes, such as storing oxygen. Some of the iron is also stored in the liver, bone marrow, and spleen. Because iron is so important, iron regulation and iron metabolism are extremely important as well.

Too Much Of A Good Thing

If your iron metabolism is not functioning correctly, this could result in too much iron in your body. This is not good because too much iron can be toxic. When the amount of iron in the body becomes so great that it is not able to be bound by transferrin, it results in iron intoxication.

Because the body’s iron metabolism is too slow in this situation, it results in too much iron in the body. This could lead to further problems, such as severe damage to cells in the liver, the heart, and other organs as well. Iron intoxication rarely occurs due to too much iron in the diet because the body is very capable of regulating iron. Usually, iron intoxication occurs as a result of the over ingestion of iron tablets or supplements. It could also occur to diseases or disorders that effect iron metabolism.

Please, Sir, May I Have S’more?

There is also a possibility that the body’s iron metabolism might be too fast and thus result in an iron deficiency. There are other reasons for iron deficiency besides that the iron metabolism is too fast. For example, the body may not be receiving enough nutrients. Increased demand for iron or increased loss of iron may also be a factor. The body may also have problems absorbing iron. Having a fast iron metabolism and an iron deficiency could cause many long term problems, such as anemia. Symptoms of anemia include weakness, fatigue, pallor, and irritability. Anemia can be treated with iron supplements.

Latest News About Metabolism:

Yahoo! News: Weight Loss News
Health Tip: What's Behind Childhood Obesity (HealthDay)
HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Obesity is a major problem in the United States, and children are no exception. Today's kids are spending more hours watching TV, sitting at the computer or playing video games, and less time being active.
Obese Colon Cancer Survivors Face Poorer Prognosis (HealthDay)
HealthDay - TUESDAY, March 9 (HealthDay News) -- Colon cancer survivors who are moderately or severely obese face tougher survival odds following treatment compared with their normal-weight peers, a new study reveals.
NY seeks 'fat tax' on sodas to fight rising US obesity (AFP)

A person chooses a beverage in New York City in 2009. New York leaders are pressing for a so-called fat tax on the soft drinks industry, saying that sweet beverages are responsible for an upsurge of obesity across the United States.(AFP/Getty Images/File/Donald Bowers)AFP - New York leaders are pressing for a so-called fat tax on the soft drinks industry, saying that sweet beverages are responsible for an upsurge of obesity across the United States.


School drink deal cuts sugar (Reuters)
Reuters - A deal to sell healthier drinks in U.S. schools has slashed the amount of fattening beverages offered to students, former President Bill Clinton said on Monday as New York leaders pushed for a soda tax to tackle obesity and budget shortfalls.
A tipple a day keeps obesity at bay: study (AFP)

Women who drink a couple of glasses of red wine, beer or spirits a day are better at keeping the pounds off than women who do not drink at all.(AFP/File/Jeff Haynes)AFP - Women who drink a couple of glasses of red wine, beer or spirits a day are better at keeping the pounds off than women who do not drink at all, according to a study published Monday.


Modern Etiquette: Do the obese really deserve contempt? (Reuters)
Reuters - Disgust. Pity. Contempt.
Bugs in the gut can cause obesity: study (AFP)

A girl prepares her daily breakfast in Reedley, California. The bugs that help digest food may also cause the body to pack on the pounds if they are not properly regulated, a new study has found.(AFP/Getty Images/File/Justin Sullivan)AFP - The bugs that help digest food may also cause the body to pack on the pounds if they are not properly regulated, a new study has found.


Obesity: How Intestinal Bacteria May Cause Weight Gain (Time.com)

People line up to buy food at a fast food restaurant in Harlem, New York in this December 16, 2009 file photo.  REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly/FilesTime.com - A growing body of research suggests that your ever expanding gut is not only the result of weight gain, but could potentially be a cause


Gut Bacteria May Spur Obesity, Research Suggests (HealthDay)
HealthDay - THURSDAY, March 4 (HealthDay News) -- Intestinal bacteria may contribute to obesity and metabolic syndrome, a new study in mice suggests.
Gene test claims to show what diet works best (AP)
AP - Diet not working? Blame your genes. That's the pitch behind a new test that claims to show whether people will do better on a low-fat or a low-carb weight loss plan.
RSS integration by RSSinclude

MetabolismDetails.Com Home | Articles and More About Metabolism
Contact Us | Latest Metabolism News | Resources

Copyright © 2007 [MetabolismDetails.Com]