Unbound iron in biology triggers a cascade of ROS formation known as a Fenton reaction, which ends in the creation of hydroxyl radicals (some of the most damaging free radicals possible)
This is why the body works to keep iron bound at all times, to protect itself
This is why the body works to keep iron bound at all times, to protect itself
Iron metabolism is the body relies heavily on copper as an electron donor/acceptor, converting iron back and forth from the soluble ferrous form to the insoluble ferric form
This allows free iron to be absorbed and transported in the ferric form so it doesn't oxidize
This allows free iron to be absorbed and transported in the ferric form so it doesn't oxidize
Iron is then converted back to the ferrous form to be loaded into different protein structures, for example hemoglobin, where it acts as an oxygen transporter
Retinol is used to synthesize transferrin, which transports and clears free iron
Retinol is used to synthesize transferrin, which transports and clears free iron
Vitamin C also plays a role in converting iron between electron configurations, improving the absorption of non-heme iron from the diet, and returning oxidized iron-containing proteins back into their proper reduced state
Copper, retinol, and vitamin C form the foundation that iron metabolism is built on
Without these three nutrients, iron becomes oxidative
Without these three nutrients, iron becomes oxidative
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