Human iron metabolism

<p>Human iron metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that maintain <a href="/facts/Human_homeostasis/rloTGAHa">human homeostasis</a> of <a href="/facts/Iron/QK1JYy8E">iron</a> at the systemic and cellular level.  Iron is both necessary to the body and potentially toxic. Controlling iron levels in the body is a critically important part of many aspects of human health and disease. <a href="/facts/Hematologist/DF6QqYQk">Hematologists</a> have been especially interested in systemic iron <a href="/facts/Metabolism/WxDrm8k5">metabolism</a>, because iron is essential for <a href="/facts/Red_blood_cells/Kggpq8Jh">red blood cells</a>, where most of the human body's iron is contained. Understanding iron metabolism is also important for understanding diseases of <a href="/facts/Iron_overload/b7jEdAGr">iron overload</a>, such as <a href="/facts/Hereditary_hemochromatosis/pFV8HJ3V">hereditary hemochromatosis</a>, and <a href="/facts/Iron_deficiency/wK3f3IuR">iron deficiency</a>, such as <a href="/facts/Iron-deficiency_anemia/LK17js79">iron-deficiency anemia</a>.
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Human iron metabolism open-in-new

Human iron metabolism