Iron Mineral Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Iron Mineral - Essay Example The test should be conducted when symptoms of either an overload or deficiency of iron are noted. Iron-deficiency (anemia) symptoms include weakness, headaches, dizziness, tiredness (chronic fatigue) and pallor/pale skin. On the other hand, iron-overload symptoms include loss of sex drive, weight loss, and abdominal pain, loss of body hair, fatigue, heart problems, and joint problems It measures the iron-binding capacity. It is not a commonly used method because it requires immunologic measurement, a costly and time-consuming procedure that most clinical laboratories cannot afford. It arises when there is an iron overload in human being’s body. Ferrous iron has toxicity effect that varies largely in line with the integrity of gastrointestinal lining. The amount consumed gives clue on the potential of toxicity. If a person takes an elemental iron ingestion of more than 50mg/kg, severe toxicity is bound to arise. When blood values are taken, levels exceeding 1000 Â µg/dL are a clear indication of severe iron poisoning while those between 350-500 Â µg/dL are considered toxic. c) After a length of more than two weeks since poisoning, damage to stomach, liver and central nervous system may occur. Adverse effects of iron poisoning include diarrhea, constipation, gastrointestinal irritation, nausea, and vomiting. To avoid iron poisoning adhere to the following tolerable levels. Reference/Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) is a system that outlines the daily intake levels of nutrients, minerals and vitamins to match the requirements of 97-98% of healthy individuals (National Research Council, 2009). RDI recommends intake of sufficient amount of iron equivalent to 18 grams per day based on diet of individuals because iron is a crucial element in the body. RDA (recommended dietary allowances) and AI (adequate intake) are reference values provided by RDI. RDA gives the daily dietary intake level of a mineral/ nutrient that