Iron metabolism
Human body requires iron for the synthesis of the oxygen transport proteins, hemoglobin and myoglobin in the body
Total body iron in men ~ 3.8 g, in women ~ 2.3 g.
Approximately 2/3 of total iron is functional, serving either a metabolic or an enzymic function; in the form of hemoglobin, circulating with in RBC
The factor influencing iron balance are intake of iron, iron stores and iron loss
Adult males require ~ 1 mg of absorbed iron daily to replace the losses in gut secretions, epithelial cells, urine and skin
In menstruating females this can increase to 1.4