Lecture 20: Iron Status 1 Flashcards
What are some functions of iron?
- Oxygen carrying (Haemoglobin)
- Oxygen storage (Myoglobin)
- Oxidative production cellular energy
- Glycolysis in muscles
What are consequences of iron deficiency anaemia?
- Decreased work capacity
- Fatigue
- Behavioural disturbances
- Decreased cognitive function
- Decreased growth
- Spoon-shaped nails
What are symptoms of non-anaemic iron deficiency?
There are questions to what symptoms could look like:
- Decreased cognitive function?
- Fatigue?
- Decreased mood?
- Decreased work capacity?
What is one symptom we know for sure for non-anaemic iron deficiency?
Increased risk of iron deficiency anaemia
What is aetiology?
refers to the study of the cause or origin of a disease or medical condition
What is the aetiology of iron deficiency?
- Low intake or poor absorption
- High requirements: growth, blood loss, pregnancy
What are groups at risk of iron deficiency?
- Infants
- Toddlers
- Menstruating women
- Pregnant women
- Blood loss
- Vegetarians
What is the best assessment of iron status?
Biochemical assessment
Why is biochemical assessment the best assessment of iron status?
Because the amount of iron you absorb is massively influenced by current status, enhancers and inhibitors
- You have to do a biochemical assessment to know if someone is deficient
- CANNOT just go off dietary assessment
What will happen to haemoglobin red cell indices in the presence of iron deficiency anemia?
Haemoglobin will DECREASE
What will happen to hematocrit red cell indices in the presence of iron deficiency anemia?
Hematocrit will DECREASE
What will happen to mean cell volume red cell indices in the presence of iron deficiency anemia?
Mean cell volume will DECREASE
What will happen to red cell distribution width red cell indices in the presence of iron deficiency anemia?
Red cell distribution width will INCREASE
What will happen to erythrocyte protoporphyrin red cell indices in the presence of iron deficiency anemia?
Erythrocyte protoporphyrin will INCREASE
What are the red cell indices? (5)
- Haemoglobin
- Haematocrit
- Mean cell volume
- Red cell distribution width
- Erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP or ZPP)
What is haemoglobin?
a protein in red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen
What is haematocrit?
“packed cell volume” - the percentage of red blood cells in a given volume of blood
What is mean cell volume?
The average size or volume of red blood cells in a blood sample (Ht/RBC)
What is red cell distribution width?
a measure of the variation in size or volume of red blood cells in a blood sample
What is erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP or ZPP)?
a precursor molecule in hemoglobin production
Why does haemoglobin decrease during anaemia?
Iron is a major component of Haemoglobin
Why does mean cell volume decrease during anaemia?
If you don’t have enough iron to make Haemoglobin you will get anaemic looking blood cells, they are going to be small. This means that the mean cell volume will be smaller