Review on iron and its importance for human health

Abbaspour N, et al • Journal of Research in Medical Sciences

Key Finding

Heme iron bioavailability 15-35% vs nonheme 2-20%; daily losses ~1 mg (men) to ~2 mg (menstruating women); 2/3 of body iron in hemoglobin

Key Findings

1Heme iron bioavailability 15-35%; nonheme 2-20%
2Two-thirds of body iron in hemoglobin
3Daily losses: ~1 mg (men), ~2 mg (menstruating women)
4Excessive iron generates free radicals and causes tissue damage

Original title: “Review on iron and its importance for human health”

Plain English Summary

Review examining iron metabolism, bioavailability, requirements, and consequences of deficiency. Iron participates in oxygen transport, DNA synthesis, and electron transport.

In-Depth Analysis

Study Details

Authors: Nazanin Abbaspour, Richard Hurrell, Roya Kelishadi
Journal: J Res Med Sci, 2014 Feb; 19(2):164-174
PMCID: PMC3999603

Key Statistics (from original paper)

Body Iron Distribution

•Two-thirds in circulating hemoglobin (RBCs)
•25% in readily mobilizable reserves
•15% bound to myoglobin and oxidative enzymes

Iron Absorption

•Typical absorption: 5-35% of ingested iron
•Heme iron bioavailability: 15-35%
•Nonheme iron bioavailability: 2-20%

Daily Iron Losses

•Basal obligatory: ~1 mg/day (skin, GI tract)
•Menstruating women: ~2 mg/day average

Iron Requirements

Iron participates in metabolic processes including "oxygen transport, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis, and electron transport."

Adults require approximately:

•Males: 0.9 mg/day
•Non-menstruating females: 0.8 mg/day
•Menstruating women: significantly higher

Caution

Excessive iron generates free radicals and causes tissue damage.

Source: PMC full text (PMC3999603)

Paradigm Relevance

How this study applies to different clinical perspectives:

Standard Medical

Relevant

Conventional clinical guidelines used by most doctors

Why it matters:

Foundational reference for understanding iron biomarkers and their clinical interpretation

Research Consensus

Relevant

Current scientific understanding, often ahead of guidelines

Why it matters:

Establishes hepcidin as central to understanding iron dynamics and absorption variability

Metabolic Optimization

Relevant

Proactive targets for optimal health, not just disease absence

Why it matters:

Provides framework for optimizing iron status through dietary and supplementation strategies

Study Details

Type: Review Article
Methodology: Review article covering iron metabolism, bioavailability factors, requirements across lifespan, and deficiency prevention.