Comprehensive Clinical Update on Iron Deficiency: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management, and Evidence-Based Considerations for Clinicians
I. Total Body Iron Content & Distribution: A Functional Perspective The adult human body contains 3–4 g of iron, tightly regulated via absorption, recycling, and storage mechanisms—not excretion (no active excretory pathway for iron). Iron is distributed as follows: Compartment Quantity (g) Clinical Relevance Hemoglobin (Hb) 2.0–2.5 g (≈70% total) Primary functional pool; each gram…
