Question

What chemical reaction and chemical ideas(chemistry principle) that apply to "Anaemia treatment for low iron levels in blood "?? justify your answer with equations or example..

Answer 1

Chemical kinetics is the chemical principle involved in it. In order to explain this, I am considering the simplest case of anaemia where the body stores of iron get depleted.

• Iron in its ferrous form (Fe2+) is present as a metal cofactor in the Heme group of hemoglobin. Around, 75% of total body iron stores are associated with hemoglobin, responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood.
• When there's iron deficiency in the body i.e. in the anemic state, heme synthesis gets limited which inturn limits the synthesis of hemoglobin and eventually, affecting erythropoiesis (RBC production) in the body.
• In order to treat it, Iron is supplemented through either diet or in tablets. It is ingested in its ferric state(Fe3+) but absorbed through the gut in the ferrous state(Fe2+).
• For eg- Iron repletion shifts the equilibrium of the reaction towards synthesis of heme and thereby, enhancing hemoglobin production. Porphyrin ring of heme + Fe2+ <------> Heme
• Thus, when the Fe is more in the reactants, the reaction shifts to right and vice-versa.