Abstract
Balancing systemic iron levels within narrow limits is critical for human health, as both iron deficiency and overload lead to serious disorders. There are no known physiologically controlled pathways to eliminate iron from the body and therefore iron homeostasis is maintained by modifying dietary iron absorption. Several dietary factors, such as flavonoids, are known to greatly affect iron absorption. Recent evidence suggests that flavonoids can affect iron status by regulating expression and activity of proteins involved the systemic regulation of iron metabolism and iron absorption. We provide an overview of the links between different dietary flavonoids and iron homeostasis together with the mechanism of flavonoids effect on iron metabolism. In addition, we also discuss the clinical relevance of state-of-the-art knowledge regarding therapeutic potential that flavonoids may have for conditions that are low in iron such as anaemia or iron overload diseases.
Highlights
Studying the chemistry of iron in detail, it is easy to see why iron is essential for life
Recent evidence suggests that flavonoids can affect iron status by regulating expression and activity of proteins involved the systemic regulation of iron metabolism and iron absorption
We provide an overview of the links between different dietary flavonoids and iron homeostasis together with the mechanism of flavonoids effect on iron metabolism
Summary
Studying the chemistry of iron in detail, it is easy to see why iron is essential for life. Haemoproteins are a large group of iron-containing proteins where the iron is bound to a porphyrin molecule (haem) which is bound to the different proteins with diverse functions. Iron-sulphur proteins are widespread in all living organisms and express numerous actions. They are included in redox and non-redox reactions as part of different enzymes, like succinate dehydrogenase and aconitase, and proteins involved in the electron transfer chain [1,5]. The third class of iron-containing proteins presents a diverse group of proteins that do not contain iron in a haem or iron-sulphur form. Balancing systemic iron levels within narrow limits in an organism is crucial, as both iron deficiency and iron overload lead to serious haematological, metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders, which belong to the most frequent disorders worldwide, as well as carcinogenesis [13]
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