Iron Deficiency Anemia
Iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia. Iron is a key part of red blood cells. Without iron, the blood cannot carry oxygen effectively. The body normally gets iron through diet and by reusing iron from old red blood cells.
Iron :
The total body iron in a 70-kg man is about ( 4 g.) This is maintained by a balance between absorption and body losses. Although the body only absorbs ( 1 mg) every day to maintain balance, the internal requirement for iron is greater (20 - 25 mg.). An erythrocyte has a lifespan of 120 days so that 0.8% of red blood cells are destroyed and replaced each day.
A man with 5 L of blood volume has 2.5 g of iron incorporated into the hemoglobin, with every day turnover of 20 mg for hemoglobin synthesis and degradation and another 5 mg for other requirements.
