The Regulation of Iron Absorption and Homeostasis.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review of biological mechanisms without systematic search methodology or original clinical data
What was done
This narrative review synthesizes research from the preceding 20 years on systemic iron homeostasis, drawing from cellular models, animal studies, and human iron-related disorders such as hereditary hemochromatosis and various anemias.
What was found
The abstract provides a qualitative overview of iron regulation mechanisms and reports no numerical data. It describes how mammalian iron balance is controlled through absorption, utilization, and recycling rather than excretion. The liver acts as the primary regulatory site by secreting hepcidin, which binds the exporter ferroportin to trigger its internalization and degradation, thereby reducing cellular iron efflux and serum iron levels.
Why it matters
Elucidating the hepcidin-ferroportin axis explains the pathophysiology of iron overload and deficiency states, providing targets for diagnostic and therapeutic tools in iron-associated disorders.
Limits
This is an unstructured narrative review reporting no systematic search strategy, selection criteria, quality appraisal, or primary quantitative data.
Cited by
- supports The human body does not have a physiological mechanism to eliminate excess iron.