Trace Minerals Flashcards
What is the most abundant trace element in the body?
Iron (Fe)
Iron plays a crucial role in various biological functions.
What is the most common nutrient deficiency in the world?
Iron deficiency anaemia
This condition affects a significant portion of the global population.
How much iron do adults contain in grams?
Between 2.5-4 g (0.01% of body weight)
The amount can vary based on individual health and diet.
What percentage of iron in the body is found in the form of haemoglobin?
60%
Haemoglobin is vital for oxygen transport in the blood.
What percentage of iron is found as myoglobin?
5%
Myoglobin helps in oxygen storage in muscle tissues.
What is the role of enzymes in relation to iron?
5% of iron is part of enzymes
Enzymes facilitate various biochemical reactions in the body.
What are the other forms of iron found in the body aside from haemoglobin and myoglobin?
Blood and storage (ferritin)
Ferritin serves as a storage form of iron.
Fill in the blank: Iron is the _____ most abundant mineral in the earth’s crust.
fourth
The most abundant minerals are Oxygen, Silicon, and Aluminium.
What is the chemical symbol for iron?
Fe
Iron is classified as what type of metal?
Transition metal
What are the two most stable oxidation states of iron?
- Ferric (Fe3+) * Ferrous (Fe2+)
What essential role does iron play in biological systems?
Essential for oxidation-reduction reactions
What is a special property of iron regarding its oxidation states?
Easily changing between two oxidation states
What is the reduced form of iron commonly found in foods?
Ferrous (Fe2+)
What is the oxidized form of iron that is able to bind to transferrin?
Ferric (Fe3+)
In what type of conditions is ferric iron soluble?
Low pH conditions
In what type of conditions is ferrous iron soluble?
Neutral to high pH conditions
What is a potential negative consequence of free iron in biological systems?
Ability to promote formation of free radicals
Fill in the blank: Free iron can lead to free radicals formation → need to be in _______ form.
Complex
True or False: Iron can only exist in one oxidation state.
False
What is the primary function of haemoglobin?
Carries oxygen in blood
Haemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
What role does myoglobin play in the body?
Resides in muscle and moves oxygen into muscle cells
Myoglobin is a protein that helps store and release oxygen in muscle tissues.
What element is at the center of the haem protein?
Iron
Iron is crucial for oxygen binding in both haemoglobin and myoglobin.
Fill in the blank: Iron is the _______ containing portion of haemoglobin and myoglobin.
iron
The presence of iron is essential for the oxygen-carrying capacity of these proteins.