12/23/2023 0 Comments Chemical iron![]() ![]() This allegory still reminds of physical strength and stamina of the Roman god of war, and it is reasonable given the role of these iron-containing proteins in supplying tissues with oxygen. The blood content of the metal refers to a subject’s martial status (from Italian profilo marziale: profilo “profile” and marziale “martial”). ![]() These mechanisms assure a total body iron of about 2.3 g in women and 3.8 g in men, with almost 60–70% being incorporated in the main circulating protein hemoglobin (Hb), 20% in iron deposits of ferritin, and about 15% in other proteins, mostly myoglobin in muscle tissue together with heme and non-heme enzymes and the iron transport protein transferrin (Tf). In Homo sapiens, the complex regulation of deposits allocation (↑ release if ↑ requirements) and erythrocytes (RBCs) cycle assures the metal to be conserved in complex forms bound to proteins, with the intestinal passage (↑ absorption if ↓ reserves) being the main regulatory point of body iron balance. Plants acquired two key mechanisms: strategy I (H + extrusion to promote Fe 3+ reduction) and strategy II (release of specific Fe 3+-chelating phytosiderophores and subsequent high-affinity uptake). Īlthough the evolution of biological beings diverged millennials ago, iron had been incorporated by plants and animals in an exceptionally similar manner in order to exploit its role in respiration. From the medieval alchemist’s symbolism, iron had always been represented as an oblique arrow originating from a circle (♂), which had been also used by astrologist to represent Mars, with his shield and spear, and nowadays by scholars to refer to the male gender as a Carl Linnaeus’ heritage. Indeed, the iron-containing dust or rust of the planet makes it appear mostly red like blood, thus mirroring the unpleasant violence of battles to ancient peoples. Egyptians referred to it as “Her Desher”, which means “the red one”. ![]() Probably, the dim reddish-orange appearance inspired the Romans to name the Red Planet like their god of war. The inorganic oxide presents as a solid matter, shiny and silvery, hard and dense, good conductor of heat, often forming colored compounds. Nevertheless, this prevalent form remains unavailable for organisms, which evolved to acquire diverse mechanisms for incorporating the metal, such as the reduction of Fe 3+ to Fe 2+. Still existing as full energy form in the core of supernova remnants, common oxidation states of iron are −2, 0, 2 (Fe 2+, ferrous status), 3, and 6, with the ferric status (Fe 3+) being the most stable on Earth’s aerobic atmosphere and neutral pH environments. The chemical symbol Fe comes from the Latin name of iron, ferrum, and it is placed in the periodic table among transition metals with coordinates group 8, block d, and period 4. Iron was easy to find and extract, as it is one of the most abundant elements on our planet, being constitutive of both the inner and outer cores of Earth and its surface crust since the beginning of the world. after the collapse of the Bronze Age kingdoms, which gave rise to the so-called Iron Age. These discoveries occurred around 1200 B.C. Since the Hittites of Near East and other metalsmiths in the Mediterranean region began to learn how to heat iron with charcoal powder, harder and more durable weapons than previous bronze or iron-only counterparts had undoubtedly made battles fiercer. Known as Ares by Greeks, he was said to love bloody battles. Mars, the god of war for the ancient Romans, had to be worshiped prior to battle by believing soldiers. Whatever the martial status is, today’s knowledge about iron biochemistry allows us to embrace exceedingly personalized interventions, which however owe their success to the mythical and historical events that always accompanied this metal. Bone marrow and spleen represent the initial and ultimate step of iron metabolism, respectively, and the most part of body iron circulates bound to specific proteins and mainly serves to synthesize hemoglobin for new red blood cells. The oral absorption of this metal occurs in the duodenum and is highly dependent upon its oxidation state, with many absorption influencers possibly interfering with the intestinal uptake. The improvement of the martial status is mainly targeted with dietary supplements that often couple diverse co-factors, but other methods are available, such as parenteral preparations, dietary interventions, or real-world approaches. This last indication has been handed down until today, when martial therapy is considered fundamental to correct deficiency states of anemia. The ancients used the metal to shape tools, to forge weapons, and even as a dietary supplement. Iron is a fundamental element in human history, from the dawn of civilization to contemporary days. ![]()
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