Blood and functions of iron

About 6 percent of body iron is a component of certain proteins, essential for respiration and energy metabolism, and as a component of enzymes involved in the synthesis of collagen and some neurotransmitters.

Perhaps the most important of iron’s functions in the body is the production of hemoglobin and myoglobin (the form of hemoglobin found in muscle tissue), and the oxygenation of red blood cells. Myoglobin takes oxygen from hemoglobin and delivers it to muscle cells, and the cytochromes, which are important for generating energy.

Iron complexed with the protein hemoglobin is necessary for oxygen transport in the blood. Iron is the central atom of the heme group, a metal complex that binds molecular oxygen (O2) in the lungs and carries it to all of the other cells in the body that need oxygen to perform their activities.

Iron is the mineral found in the largest amounts in the blood. About 25 percent of the iron in the body is stored within enterocyte in the form of ferritin, circulates in the blood. Ferritin is made up of heavy and light chain subunits, which create a spherical hollow space that can accommodate up to 4500 iron ions.

The average adult male has about 1,000 mg of stored iron (enough for about three years), whereas women on average have only about 300 mg (enough for about six months).

Ferritin can release iron if the blood has a low iron concentration, and it can help to store excess iron if the blood and tissues have a high iron concentration. Hence, ferritin functions as a "buffer" against iron deficiency and, to a lesser extent, against iron overload.

When iron stores are exhausted, the condition is called iron depletion. Further decreases may be called iron-deficient erythropoiesis and still further decreases produce iron deficiency anemia.
Blood and functions of iron

Iron in myoglobin

Hemoglobin and its muscular counterpart, myoglobin use the same iron-plus oxygen ingredients in another form doomed the microbial world to mass extinction and that created vast iron oxide, rust, deposits on planet earth.

Studies of the distribution of iron in adult males have shown that 70% of the body’s iron resides in hemoglobin; 25% in ferritin, hemosiderin and transferrin; and 4% in myoglobin. Myoglobin has the function of oxygen storage in muscle.

It must bind strongly to oxygen at very low pressures, and it is 50% saturated at 1 torr partial pressure of oxygen. Its binding characteristics are such that it takes up oxygen from hemoglobin in the blood and releases it for use into the mitochondria where oxidative reactions occur.

Iron content or myoglobin concentration of muscle in adult anemic subjects does not differ from that in normal subjects. However, iron deficiency in children is associated with growth retardation, and serum myoglobin concentration also show changes that a parallel the level of hemoglobin concentration in the blood.
Iron in myoglobin

Calcium role in blood coagulation

When blood vessels rupture, process of blood coagulation is quickly activated.

Adequate calcium ions in the plasma are required in all phases of many of blood coagulation, and blood will not clot in the absent of calcium.  A number of blood proteins, called congratulation factors require Ca2+ ions for activity.

This mineral is essential for the formation of fibrin, the fibrous protein that makes up the structure of blood clots.

In most instances, the calcium binding sites appear to stabilize the fold of proteins but calcium ions may also directly involved in enzymes activation, enzyme –cofactor and domain-domain interaction, as well as in membrane binding.

Blood clot formed at the end of coagulation process is composed of a meshwork of fibrin threads running in all directions along who entrapped blood cells, platelets and plasma.
Calcium role in blood coagulation

Manganese in blood

Manganese is involved in many enzyme systems – that is, it helps to catalyze many biochemical reactions.

Grains and greens in particular are good sources of manganese, which has properties beneficial to the formation of blood.

Manganese is present in extremely low concentrations in whole blood (7.7-12.1 ug/L) and serum (.38-1.1 ug/L). Red blood cells account for about 70% of the manganese in whole blood. There is also manganese-independent enzyme superoxide dismutase in white blood cells.

Formation of superoxide by such white blood cells as neutrophils and tissue scavenging macrophages is essential to their roles in protecting human.

In plasma, manganese is largely bound to gamma-globulin and albumin, with a small fraction of trivalent manganese bound to the iron-carrying protein, tranferrin.
Manganese in blood 

Manganese helps regulating blood sugar

Although manganese is found in trace quantities in the human body, it is essential to life.

Manganese is involved in the function of numerous organ systems and is need for blood sugar regulation. While more needs to be learned about the activities of this mineral research shows that having sufficient manganese is essential for health.

It plays a part in protein, carbohydrate and fat metabolism and essential for regulating blood sugar. Manganese is required for metabolism of carbohydrate as the synthesis of new glucose from pyruvate is necessary on manganese-containing enzymes as well as for normal insulin secretion.

Manganese deficiency may reduce glucose tolerance, insulin secretion and ability to control blood sugar. People who have diabetes sometimes have significantly less manganese than healthy people.

In diabetics who are manganese deficient, supplementation may improve glucose metabolism.
Manganese helps regulating blood sugar

Potassium role in regulating blood flow

Potassium is the major intracellular cation of the body, with almost all the body’s content found within cells, the majority of it bound to phosphate and protein.

Tissue oxygen delivery can be regulated through either changes in blood flow or changes in oxygen loss from hemoglobin.

Blood flow in tissue is determined by the pressure difference between the arterial and venous sides of its circulation and the resistance to flow offered by its own vasculature. Blood flow is normally regulated directly in response to cardiac work.

Regulation of Blood flows occurs by means of three basic regulatory mechanism metabolic, myogenic and paracrine.

Metabolic regulation refers to changes in blood flow that occur in response to alterations in the ratio of blood flow to the metabolic requirements of tissue and it is mediated by vasodilator metabolites, including adenosine, potassium ions, CO2 and hydrogen ions released from parenchymal cells.

Potassium ion appears to play a role in causing the increase in blood flow in contracting skeletal muscle. 

Potassium is released from muscle fibers during contractile activity and accumulates in the interstitial space, where it could influence blood flow by interacting with the vasculature.
Potassium role in regulating blood flow

Calcium in blood clot system

Calcium is an essential body mineral. Approximately 99% of the calcium in the body is stored in the bones. The rest is located in the blood and tissue fluids.

Calcium is necessary for blood clotting. Calcium is essential for the formation fibrin, the fibrous proteins that makes up the structure of blood clot.

According to Best and Taylor’s theory: when blood is shed form wound, thromboplastin is liberated from the damaged tissue and disintegrated platelets. It acts on prothrombin in the presence of calcium and coverts it to active thrombin. Then thrombin reacts with fibrinogen and converts it into fibrin, which is insoluble. 

Calcium actually participates in nearly every step of the blood clotting cascade. Adequate amounts of calcium ions are required in all phases of blood clotting and blood will not clot in the absence of calcium.

The constants level of calcium in the blood and tissues is maintained by the action of calcitonin and parathormone.
Calcium in blood clot system