Know about iron Mineral

Dear Readers,

                  To day i am going to present you about the Iron Mineral, which is very important for all of us, Esspecially its very important for women. After reading this article the following questions will be answered for you.

What is Iron Mineral ?

Where can we find iron Mineral ?

What is the effect of Deficiency ?

How to Avoid deficiency ?

and some other details also, lets jump into the topic.

Iron (Fe) is a component of hemoglobin, myoglobin, and many enzymes in the body. Heme iron, contained mainly in animal products, is absorbed much better than nonheme iron (eg, in plants and grains), which accounts for > 85% of iron in the average diet. However, absorption of nonheme iron is increased when it is consumed with animal protein and vitamin C.

Deficiency:

Iron deficiency is one of the most common mineral deficiencies in the world. It may result from the following:

• Inadequate iron intake, common in infants, adolescent girls, and pregnant women
• Malabsorption (eg, celiac sprue)
• Chronic bleeding

Chronic bleeding due to colon cancer is a serious cause in middle-aged people and the elderly.

When deficiency is advanced, microcytic anemia develops for more details please visit Anemias Caused by Deficient Erythropoiesis: Iron Deficiency Anemia.

In addition to anemia, iron deficiency may cause pica (a craving for nonfoods) and spoon nails and is associated with restless leg syndrome. Rarely, iron deficiency causes dysphagia due to postcricoid esophageal web.

Diagnosis involves CBC, serum ferritin, and possibly measurement of transferrin saturation (iron capacity). All people with moderate or severe iron deficiency and some people with mild deficiency require iron supplementation.

Toxicity: Iron may accumulate in the body because of 

• Iron therapy given in excessive amounts or for too long.
• Repeated blood transfusions
• Chronic alcoholism
• Overdose of iron

Iron overload can also result from an inherited iron overload disease, a potentially fatal but easily treatable genetic disorder in which too much iron is absorbed. Hemochromatosis affects > 1 million Americans.

An overdose of iron is toxic, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and damage to the intestine and other organs. Diagnosis is similar to that for iron deficiency.

Iron Sources

The hemoglobin contains two different types of iron which are heme iron and non-heme iron. The main difference between the two is the absorption capability. The body easily absorbs heme iron but absorbing non-heme iron is more difficult. Absorption rates of non-heme iron can be improved by including meat, fish and vitamin C to the diet.

Another difference is the source of these two types of iron. Organ meats such as liver, heart and kidneys, and lean beef, fish, seafood, sardines, anchovies and poultry are good sources of heme iron. Plant sources provide much of the body's non-heme iron. Good sources include spinach, oat bran, apricots, kidney beans, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews, whole meal bread, eggs and soy products.

Organ meats such as liver, heart and kidneys and lean beef, fish, seafood, sardines, anchovies and poultry are food sources that are rich in heme iron. Plant sources provide much of the body's non-heme iron. Some good sources include spinach, oat bran, apricots, kidney beans, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews, wholemeal bread, eggs, soy products and fortified cereals. Many other foods have been enriched with iron and this is important because most processed foods lose their natural iron supply. Pasta, bread made with refined flour, white rice and ready-to-eat cereals fall into this last category.

Women over age 50 and all older men need 8 mg of iron/day. Any woman who has not yet started menopause needs more, 18 mg/day, compensate for the blood that is lost during a woman's monthly menstrual cycle. Women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should also get more iron.

How much is usually taken? If a nutritionally oriented doctor diagnoses iron deficiency, iron supplementation is essential. A common adult dose is 100 mg per day ( this is maximum dose). When iron deficiency is diagnosed, the doctor must also determine the cause. Usually it’s not serious (such as normal menstrual blood loss or blood donation). Occasionally, however, iron deficiency signals ulcers or even colon cancer.

Many premenopausal women become marginally iron deficient unless they supplement with iron. Even so, the 18 mg of iron present in most multiple-vitamin/mineral supplements is often adequate.

Who is likely to be deficient? Vegetarians eat less iron than nonvegetarians, and the iron they eat is somewhat less absorbable. As a result, vegetarians are more likely to have reduced iron stores. However, iron deficiency is not usually caused by a lack of iron in the diet alone; an underlying cause, such as iron loss in menstrual blood, often exists.

Pregnant women, marathon runners, people who take aspirin, and those who have parasitic infections, hemorrhoids, ulcers, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, gastrointestinal cancers, or other conditions that cause blood loss or malabsorption are likely to become deficient.

Individuals who fit into one of these groups, even pregnant women, shouldn’t automatically take iron supplements. Fatigue, the first symptom of iron deficiency, can be caused by many other things. A nutritionally oriented doctor should assess the need for iron supplements, since taking iron when it isn’t needed does no good and may do some harm.

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