Vitamins and minerals >>>> If there is not enough Iron - what to do?

If there is not enough Iron - what to do?

An important trace element in the life support of the body, iron, as a rule, is consumed in sufficient quantities with food. But it happens that the body needs additional intake of Iron. In these cases, Iron preparations come to the rescue, the features of taking which you need to know so as not to disturb the delicate balance of synthesis and metabolism that occurs in the body during the assimilation of Iron.

Iron is an extremely important element for participating in the biochemical processes of the body. In addition to the fact that Iron forms the basis of blood elements - erythrocytes, it affects many other vital processes in the human body. Iron is used for the synthesis of approximately 70 major enzymes (protein compounds) that carry oxygen, are responsible for transporting hydrogen, provide energy for biochemical processes in cells, and are responsible for the quality of cell membranes (shells) in erythrocyte cells, intestinal epithelial cells and many other cells.

An interesting fact is that proteins that transport iron ions throughout the body do this only once, and the next transfer requires the synthesis of the proteins themselves - iron carriers. Such synthesis occurs in the body only after a four to six hour period. For this reason, the body needs Iron no more than four to six times a day. Such a break is made between taking iron supplements or eating foods high in iron.

In newborns, the body contains Iron in the amount of 0.007- 0.016 ounces, in an adult, the amount of Iron is from 0.11 to 0.18 ounces. Iron consumed with food or synthesized origin is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract by only 10-20%. An excess of Iron is just as harmful to the body as its deficiency. An excess of Iron in the digestive tract causes irritation of the intestinal mucosa and desquamation of intestinal epithelial cells, which is accompanied by a disorder in the functioning of the intestine, and in particular, dyspeptic disorders.

Loss of Iron due to natural causes (physiological excretion of Iron from the body) is about one gram per day. These losses are compensated by foodstuffs containing Iron or Iron preparations. Excess Iron accumulates in the organs that deposit Iron for the needs of the body (liver, spleen, pancreas), as well as in the joints, skin and various types of body tissues. These organs are the first to suffer from excess Iron, which causes liver disease (cirrhosis), diabetes mellitus, hemosiderosis (tissue of the lungs, heart, brain and other organs) or hemochromatosis (bronze skin color).

If there is not enough Iron in the body, then they do not independently choose and do not use Iron preparations to replenish it, since excessive enthusiasm for Iron preparations can lead to severe poisoning, which will require hospitalization and a long recovery of the body.