Iron Diseases of Iron Metabolism Return to the tutorial menu. A well-balanced diet contains sufficient iron to meet body requirements. Iron is mainly absorbed in the duodenum and upper jejunum. Absorbed iron is bound in the bloodstream by the glycoprotein named transferrin.
Most absorbed iron is utilized in bone marrow for erythropoiesis.
Membrane receptors on erythroid precursors in the bone marrow avidly bind transferrin. The trace elements cobalt and manganese are also absorbed and transported via the same mechanisms as iron. The composition of the diet may also influence iron absorbtion. The iron in heme found in meat is more readily absorbed than inorganic iron by an unknown mechanism. The ferrous form of iron is more readily absorbed than ferric iron.