Red blood cells (erythrocytes), carry the oxygen from the lungs to the tissues in order to be used as energy supply (for ATP molecule synthesis which is the definition of energy in humans) for the metabolic processes. When inhaled, oxygen is taken up by erythrocytes in the blood and, due to its atomic properties, binds to the iron in hemoglobin protein. Oxygen then, is transported through the bloodstream to the target tissues. CO2 is produced as an end product after oxygen is used and CO2 is transported back to lungs to be exhaled. This is a cycle occuring 20000 to 25000 times each 24 hours.
In case of iron deficiency, inadequate oxygen is transported to the tissues, leading to a slowdown in general metabolic activities. Therefore iron definciency causes anemia. The reasons might be low iron containing diet, malabsorption problems preventing iron absorption, bledings resulting with iron loss through erythrocyte loss, failures in synthesizing hemoglobin molecule and bone marrow or spleen failures leading to impaired erythrocyte synthesis.
Intestinal iron absorbtion is coupled with Vitamin C for oxidation and reduction processes needed for iron to be absorbed by the intestinal cells. Vitamin B12 and intrinsic factors are also factors faciliating the absorption of dietary iron. Iron absorbed through the intestine binds with a carrier protein called transferrin which is synthesized in the liver cells. This is because iron has a redox potential of +3 for absoption and it is insoluble in blood. Transferrin has a high affinity for Fe+3, oxidizing it to Fe+2 and thus, enabling its transport. Iron, which is not needed for the tissues transported in liver to be stored by another protein called ferriin. If dietary iron is low, the binding capacity of the transferrin molecule increases so that it can bind more iron. Ferritin levels also increase when blood iron is low in order to store more iron .This is the body’s response to metabolic iron deficiency anemia.
Interpretation:In iron deficiency, additional tests are needed to determine the cause of the anemia. These are complete blood analyses (CBC), which show the amount of erythrocyte cells, the hematocrit giving the total amount of cells in view of total blood volume, the size of the erythrocytes and the amount of hemoglobin they contain. Analyzes of transferrin, ferritin, B12 and intrinsic factor related to the absorption, transport and storage of iron also give the information on underlying cause of iron deficiency. Symptoms include weakness, attention deficit, headache, dizziness, tinnitus, faintness, pale skin and sores in the mouth. If left untreated, it progresses to rapid and irregular heartbeats (the heart starts pumping more blood to compensate for the lack of oxygen) and more severe iron deficiency consequences
Sample: Arm venous blood. Nonfasting
Working day: Everyday
Result Time: The same day at 6 PM
