<P> Most well - nourished people in industrialized countries have 4 to 5 grams of iron in their bodies ( ∼ 38 mg iron / kg body weight for women and ∼ 50 mg iron / kg body for men ) . Of this , about 6997250000000000000 ♠ 2.5 g is contained in the hemoglobin needed to carry oxygen through the blood , and most of the rest ( approximately 2 grams in adult men , and somewhat less in women of childbearing age ) is contained in ferritin complexes that are present in all cells , but most common in bone marrow , liver , and spleen . The liver 's stores of ferritin are the primary physiologic source of reserve iron in the body . The reserves of iron in industrialized countries tend to be lower in children and women of child - bearing age than in men and in the elderly . Women who must use their stores to compensate for iron lost through menstruation , pregnancy or lactation have lower non-hemoglobin body stores , which may consist of 6996500000000000000 ♠ 500 mg , or even less . </P>
<P> Most well - nourished people in industrialized countries have 4 to 5 grams of iron in their bodies ( ∼ 38 mg iron / kg body weight for women and ∼ 50 mg iron / kg body for men ) . Of this , about 6997250000000000000 ♠ 2.5 g is contained in the hemoglobin needed to carry oxygen through the blood , and most of the rest ( approximately 2 grams in adult men , and somewhat less in women of childbearing age ) is contained in ferritin complexes that are present in all cells , but most common in bone marrow , liver , and spleen . The liver 's stores of ferritin are the primary physiologic source of reserve iron in the body . The reserves of iron in industrialized countries tend to be lower in children and women of child - bearing age than in men and in the elderly . Women who must use their stores to compensate for iron lost through menstruation , pregnancy or lactation have lower non-hemoglobin body stores , which may consist of 6996500000000000000 ♠ 500 mg , or even less . </P>
where is most of the iron in a person 's body located
where is most of the iron in a person 's body located
ferritin complexes that are present in all cells , but most common in bone marrow , liver , and spleen hemoglobin needed to carry oxygen through the blood
ferritin complexes that are present in all cells , but most common in bone marrow , liver , and spleen hemoglobin needed to carry oxygen through the blood