iron

Question 1

What is the primary role of iron in the body?

Answer 1

Used as oxygen transporter, energy production, amino acid metabolism, co factor for enzymes

Question 2

What type of iron is heme iron and where does it come from?

Answer 2

Heme iron comes from animal sources such as red meat, poultry, shellfish, and eggs

Question 3

What is non-heme iron and what are its sources?

Answer 3

Non-heme iron comes from plant sources such as spinach, leafy greens, and peanuts

Question 4

Why is iron important for thyroid function?

Answer 4

It is used in the conversion of tyrosine to thyroxine

Question 5

What substances inhibit iron absorption?

Answer 5

Tannins (tea, coffee), phytates, oxalates, and other minerals such as zinc, calcium, lead

Question 6

What are the symptoms of iron deficiency?

Answer 6

Anemia, fatigue, shortness of breath, pale conjunctiva and tongue

Question 7

Fill in the blank: Heme iron comes from _______.

Answer 7

animal sources

Question 8

Fill in the blank: Non-heme iron comes from _______.

Answer 8

plant sources

Question 9

True or False: Iron is a co-factor for enzymes.

Answer 9

True

Question 10

Fill in the blank: Iron is important for the conversion of _______ to thyroxine.

Answer 10

tyrosine

Question 11

stages of iron deficiency anaemia

Answer 11

stage 1 - ferritin decreases
stage 2 trans ferritin increases
stage 3 transferritin saturation decreases
stage 4 haemoglobin decreases

Question 12

what is the protein that regulates iron absorption

Answer 12

hepcidin

Question 13

what causes toxicity from iron

Answer 13

over supplementation
Haemochromotosis
iron infusions