Its primary role is to transport iron to the bone marrow for erythrocyte synthesis, while in the process protecting intervening tissue from the reactivity of the metal ion.
Iron absorbed form the intestine combines with a beta globulin, apotransferrin, to form transferrin.
The body of an adult contains about 14 g of transferrin, of which approximately half is found in the blood plasma.
The remainder is distributed amongst a wide variety of body fluids, including lymph, tears, cerebrospinal fluid, bile, amniotic fluid, milk saliva, aqueous humor, and seminal fluid.
Percent transferrin saturation is calculated from the total iron level and the iron-binding capacity, which is an indirect measurement of the available iron-binding sites on transferrin.
Normal % transferrin saturation is 20% to 50%, with 30% being the most common.
What is transferrin?
