Iron deficiency anemia pathophysiology

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Physiology

• In the human body, iron is present in all cells and has several vital functions such as:
  • A carrier of oxygen to the tissues from the lungs in the form of hemoglobin (Hb)
  • Facilitator of oxygen use and storage in the muscles as myoglobin
  • Transport medium for electrons within the cells in the form of cytochromes
  • Integral part of enzyme reactions in various tissues.
• Total body iron averages approximately 3.8 g in men and 2.3 g in women.

Pathophysiology

• There are several mechanisms that control human iron metabolism and safeguard against iron deficiency.
• The main regulatory mechanism is situated in the gastrointestinal tract.
• When loss of iron is not sufficiently compensated by adequate intake after some time that is determined by the state of body iron storage, iron deficiency develops.
• Too little iron can interfere with these vital functions and lead to morbidity and mortality. The direct consequence of iron deficiency is iron deficiency anemia.