Microminerals Flashcards
iron distribution in the body
65% as part of hemoglobin
10% in myoglobin
1-5% as part of enzymes
20% in storage
two categories of sources for iron
heme iron
non-heme iron
sources of heme iron
heme iron is contained within a porphryin structure and is derived from hemoglobin and myoglobin so is only find in animal products
meat, fish, poultry, oysters, clams
sources of non-heme iron
meat
beans, dark green leafy veggies, dried fruits
blackstrap molasses
enriched foods fortified with iron
which minerals are microminerals?
iron copper zinc selenium chromium iodine manganese molybdenum (Mo) fluoride boron silicon vanadium (V)
chemical forms of iron in the body
2 stable forms are:
ferric (Fe3+) and ferrous (Fe2+) iron
digestion of heme iron
heme iron is hydrolyzed from hemoglobin or myoglobin by proteases in the stomach and SI
digestion of non-heme iron
- non-heme iron is hyrolyzed from food components by HCl and proteases in the stomach releasing iron in the Fe3+ form
- some of it is reduced to Fe2+ by low pH of the stomach but it may complex to FeOH3 in the alkaline environment of the SI an and be poorly absorbed
duodenal cytochrome b
acts as a ferric reductase
reduces Fe3+ to Fe2+ in the duodenum and improves solubility and absorption
what is needed as a cofactor for duodenal cytochrome b/ferric reductase?
vitamin C is required for it so it can help absorption of non-heme iron
absorption of heme iron
- absorbed throughout the SI but absorbed most in the duodenum by the carrier protein HCP1 (heme carrier protein 1)
- then, once absorbed heme is hydrolyzed by heme oxygenase to give inorganic Fe2+ and a porphyrin ring
what percentage of heme iron is absorbed?
what percentage of non-heme e iron is absorbed?
15-35% of heme iron is absorbed
2-20% of non-heme iron is absorbed
absorption of non-heme iron
any Fe2+ is absorbed via the DMT1 (divalent mineral transporter 1), stimulated by low iron stores
iron present in the Fe3+ form is reduced to Fe2+
factors that enhance absorption of non-heme iron
- vitamin C
- other organic acids (malic, citric, tartaric, lactic acids)
- meat, fish, poultry
- low iron status
factors that inhibit iron absorption
phytic acids (phytases) polyphenols oxalates phosvitin (found in egg yolks) other minerals (calcium, zinc, copper, manganese) soy, wheat, egg, whey, casein protein herbal teas: peppermint, green tea, linden flower and chamomile rapid transit time decreased stomach acidity
what does hepcidin do?
when iron stores are high or adequate, hepcidin is released from the liver which promotes the degradation of ferroportin which decreases the transport of iron across the membrane of the enterocyte
- also, low levels of hepcidin cause increased ferroportin levels
actions of mobilferrin, ferroportin, and transferrin
- mobilferrin transports iron through enterocytes
- ferroportin is required to transport iron across the basolateral membrane
- transferrin transports iron in the blood while in the Fe3+ form
how is Fe2+ iron converted into Fe3+ iron before it enters the bloodstream?
with either of:
- hephaestin
- ceruloplasmin
where is iron stored in the body?
60% stored in lover
also stores in bone marrow and spleen
storage proteins for iron?
- ferritin - primary storage protein for iron
- hemosiderin - a degradation product of ferritin
when do levels of hemosiderin increase?
during iron overload
why is iron turnover so high?
because the dietary intake cannot meet the daily needs of the body so iron is constantly recycling its stores from degradation of ferritin, hemoglobin, and hemosiderin
functions of iron in the body
- oxygen transport and storage
- electron transport and energy metabolism
- some iron-dependant enzymes
what are some examples of iron-dependant enzymes?
- peroxidases (catalyse, myeloperosidase, thyroperosidase)
- ribonucleotide reductase
- tyrosine hyroxylase
- monooxygenases