Overview of Iron Metabolism in Health and Disease

Overview of Iron Metabolism in Health and Disease
Som Dev and Jodie L. Babitt

Hemodial Int. 2017 Jun; 21(Suppl 1): S6–S20.

Abstract
Iron is an essential element for numerous fundamental biologic processes, but excess iron is toxic. Abnormalities in systemic iron balance are common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and iron administration is a mainstay of anemia management in many patients. This review provides an overview of the essential role of iron in biology, the regulation of systemic and cellular iron homeostasis, how imbalances in iron homeostasis contribute to disease, and the implications for CKD patients.

Keywords: Iron metabolism, iron deficiency, iron overload, anemia, chronic kidney disease