Function was returned to normal when the vitamin C was discontinued. The above experience and knowledge lead to the rational use of vitamin C during chelation therapy. When Desferal is given in low doses, such as with daily intramuscular injections, high doses of vitamin C makes available more iron from the tissues than the medication can chelate. There has been no cardiac dysfunction reported when vitamin C and Desferal are used appropriately. Vitamin C should never be taken in large doses by individuals who have large total body iron burden.
Ferritin is found in most cells in the body and in the serum.
Its function in serum is not known. It is a large complex molecule that sequesters iron. It has 24 protein subunits of two types. These subunits form a structure with a hollow cavity that can sequester 4500 atoms of iron. The iron can enter and exit the ferritin cavity and is part of the metabolic pool of reactive metals in the cell.