What is the difference between iron and ferritin?

The key difference between iron and ferritin lies in their function: iron is a mineral that carries oxygen, while ferritin is a protein that stores iron.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Iron

• Function: Iron is a vital mineral, primarily known for its role in red blood cells. It's a crucial component of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that binds to oxygen. This allows red blood cells to transport oxygen from the lungs to all the cells in the body.
• Form: Iron exists in various forms in the body, but it is fundamentally a mineral element.
• Role: It is essential for many bodily functions such as:
  • Oxygen transport
  • Energy production
  • DNA synthesis
• Deficiency: Lack of iron can lead to iron deficiency anemia, characterized by fatigue and weakness.

Ferritin

• Function: Ferritin is a protein whose main role is to store iron. It sequesters iron in a non-toxic form, releasing it when the body needs it.
• Form: Ferritin is a complex protein with the ability to bind and store iron.
• Role: Ferritin acts as the body’s iron reserve, which includes:
  • Iron storage
  • Iron release (on demand)
• Levels: High levels of ferritin can indicate inflammation or iron overload, which can affect organs like the pancreas and liver.
  • As noted in the reference, "High ferritin levels may also affect the pancreas and liver."

Table Comparing Iron and Ferritin

In summary, iron is what is used, while ferritin is where iron is stored and made available to be used when needed.