Study of some oxidative parameters in patients with iron deficiency anemia

Abstract

Iron deficiency is one of the most prevalent disorders in humans. It may result from nutritional deficiency, faulty or incomplete absorption, increased demand for iron or excessive loss of iron. Iron deficiency anemia is the more severe form of Iron deficiency where the hemoglobin concentration has fallen below the 95•••-. percent reference range for age. Iron is the most abundant of all essential elements in the human body. It participates in many biochemical processes including cellular oxidative mechanisms and oxygen transport. In the presence of iron, hydrogen peroxide produces the hydroxyl radical (OH'), which is the main toxic free radical that reacts with all kinds of biologic molecules. Iron is transported as transferrin and stored as ferritin and hemosiderin proteins to minimize the amount of free iron within the cells and the extra-cellular fluids. This sequestration of iron may be regarded as an important contribution to antioxidant defenses. Antioxidants are the main defense mechanisms against the damaging effects of free radicals. oc-tocopherol is a fat soluble vitamin that acts as a potent antioxidant. Reduced glutathione acts as a general "radical quencher" in cells. Under oxidative conditions, glutathione can be considerably diminish d.