Iron Stores (Body)

Body "iron stores" represent a dynamic reservoir managed primarily by ferritin and hemosiderin within organs like the liver, spleen, and bone marrow. These reserves ensure continuous supply for essential functions such as oxygen transport, enzyme activity, and immune support, while protecting against toxicity from free circulating iron through tight regulatory mechanisms involving hepcidin and cellular sensors responsive to systemic needs. Maintaining adequate but not excessive iron stores is vital for overall health. Imbalances can lead to iron deficiency anemia (low stores) or conditions like hemochromatosis (high stores).

Other names

Body Iron StoresFerritinHemosiderinLiver IronSpleen IronBone Marrow Iron

N/A - Iron stores are a physiological system, not a single druggable target. Interventions target individual components of the system (e.g., iron absorption, storage, release). Iron supplements increase iron availability, chelators bind and remove excess iron, hepcidin mimetics reduce iron release.