Human Nutrition 3(3+0)

Lesson 38 : Iron

Functions

1. Iron is present in haemoglobin, myoglobin, cytochromes and other oxidative enzymes.
2. The haemoglobin which contains ferrous iron is essential for carrying oxygen to different tissues.
3. The cytochromes are important enzymes of the respiratory chains which catalyze the reaction of hydrogen removal from substrates and combination with molecular oxygen to form water.
4. Metalloflavoproteins essential for oxidation of several important metabolites contain iorn.
5. Catalyses decomposition of H2O2 formed in tissues to H2O and O2.