what role does iron play in blood
Hemoglobin, which carries iron, gives red blood cells their color. Iron, a mineral you ingest in food, plays a vital role in transporting oxygen to tissues throughout your body. Although iron has other functions as well, acting as an oxygen delivery system is its best-known function.
Red Blood Cell Production. It takes iron to make new red blood cells, which your body creates in the bone marrow. Around 80 percent of the iron you absorb enters the bone marrow for this purpose, according to the Information Center for Sickle Cell and Thalassemic Disorders.