Ferritin is a water-soluble complex of iron hydroxide with the protein apoferritin. It is found in cells of the liver, spleen, red bone marrow, and reticulocytes.
Transferrin is a beta globulin. Its main function is to transport absorbed iron to its depots (liver, spleen) and to reticulocytes and their precursors in the red bone marrow. Transferrin can bind other metal ions (zinc, cobalt, etc.).
Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) is an indicator of transferrin concentration. It should be noted that transferrin levels estimated based on TIC results are overestimated by 16-20%, as iron binds to other proteins when transferrin is more than half saturated.
The total iron content in the human body is approximately 4.2 g. Approximately 75-80% of the total iron is found in hemoglobin, 20-25% of iron is in reserve, 5-10% is found in myoglobin, and 1% is contained in respiratory enzymes that catalyze respiration processes in cells and tissues.
Iodine is a trace element found in nature. Drinking water contains negligible amounts of iodine, so the human body obtains most of this trace element through food. Seafood contains the highest iodine concentrations (approximately 800 μg/kg); seaweed is particularly rich in iodine.
Urine copper testing is used primarily for diagnosis and evaluation of treatment effectiveness for Wilson-Konovalov disease. Urinary copper excretion in Wilson-Konovalov disease is typically greater than 100 mcg/day (1.57 μmol/day), but may be lower in young siblings before symptoms develop.
Copper is one of the most important essential micronutrients necessary for human life. The adult body contains 1.57-3.14 mmol of copper, with half of this amount found in muscle and bone, and 10% in liver tissue.
The amount of chlorine in urine depends on its content in food. Breastfed infants excrete very little chlorine in their urine, as breast milk contains low levels. The transition to mixed feeding leads to a significant increase in chlorine in the urine. Its level in urine increases in line with increasing salt intake.
The total chlorine content in the body of a healthy individual weighing 70 kg is approximately 2000 mmol, or 30 mmol/kg. Chlorine is the major extracellular cation. In the body, it is found primarily in the ionized state, as salts of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and other elements.
