Abstract
Conclusions:
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Iron is a transition metal and exists predominantly in two valencies, Fe(II) and Fe(III). It reacts readily with oxygen and can promote the production of free radicals. Iron takes part in redox processes and plays a central role in energy metabolism in cells.
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Iron is present in the body as functional or transport and storage forms. The functional compounds include haemoglobin in the red blood cells (oxygen transport), myoglobin in muscle (oxygen storage), cytochromes in mitochondria (oxidative production of energy), iron—sulphur proteins in mitochondria (electron transport), and haem and non-haem iron enzymes involved in a variety of metabolic activities.
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There are interactions between iron and other micronutrients, e.g. copper, vitamin A and riboflavin, during absorption and also at all stages of metabolism thereafter.
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© 1995 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
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The British Nutrition Foundation. (1995). Conclusions and Suggestions for Future Progress. In: Iron. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0585-9_21
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0585-9_21
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-4259-8
Online ISBN: 978-94-011-0585-9
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