Question

Why is iron homeostasis important ? How is maintained.

Answer 1

Answer

Importance of iton homeostasis

• Iron is an important element of hemoglobin. It helps in transporting oxygen to body tissue and also to remove carbondioxide.
• It is necessary to maintain optimum level of iron is body to prevent iron deficiency anemia, iron overload and other chronic diseases.
• Deficiency of iron leads to weight loss, paleness, lethargy, fatigue and menstrual problems.
• Iron overload due to multiple blood transfusions, lead to vomiting, fever, hyperglycemia, and leukocytosis.
• It can also alter body's pH by metabolic acidosis.
• Inadequate iron homestatis causes severe consequences such as hypotension,seizures, and coma.

Hence, iron homeostasis is important

Maintanance of iron homeostatis.

• Liver is the primary site for iron metabolism and regulation in the body.
• Iron absorption, utilization and recycling helps in maintaing balance.
• An iron regulatory hormone hepcidin is produced in liver which acts as a negative regulator for iron absorption. It detects high levels of iron in blood.
• Hepcidin binds with cellular iron exporter ferroportin to degrade excess iron and reduce efflux of iron from cells into blood to maintain serum iron levels.