Patient/caregiver was instructed upon functions of iron in the body as follows:
- Iron is an essential element found in the blood, playing a significant role in various body functions.
- Being a constituent of hemoglobin, a protein found in the red blood cells, iron helps with formation of red blood cells and their function of carrying oxygen to various body tissues.
- Iron is present in myoglobin, a protein found in the muscle tissue. Myoglobin plays a significant role in transfer of oxygen from blood to muscle cells.
- Iron is an important constituent of proteins called cytochromes. Cytochromes help with metabolizing and detoxifying various toxic compounds, such as, medications and metabolic by-products produced in the body.
- By being part of cytochromes, iron also helps synthesis of ATP. ATP is a form of energy utilized by the different cells in the body, to maintain their metabolism and function.
- Iron also forms an important constituent of many enzymes needed for nutrient metabolism. Iron acts as a cofactor for different enzymes controlling various metabolic reactions in the body.
