Hemoglobin, Iron, Ferritin?

[_meow]

Can someone please explain the difference between hemoglobin, iron and ferritin? It always confuses me and I CANNOT get it straight thanks.

[tokebi]

You can find detailed info by googling, but here's a concise description that might be helpful to remember:

Hemoglobin: Protein that is responsible for transporting oxygen. Contains a "heme" group which has iron in it. Hence the name, hemoglobin.

Iron: a.k.a. ferrum. Essential ingredient for hemoglobin among other biological functions.

Ferritin: Protein that stores and carries iron around to wherever it's needed. Have you noticed how protein names often end in -in? This one is ferritin because it carries ferrum.

[lhflanurseNP, APRN]

Hemoglobin is the protein in RBCs that transport oxygen. Iron is required for hemoglobin. Ferritin is the "storehouse" for iron production. So, if a patient's hemoglobin is low but iron is ok...one assumes this is dehydration or mild anemia. If one were to check the ferritin and find it low, then one would say the patient has severe anemia and the iron is ok 'cause it just got a surplus from the ferritin. If hemoglobin and iron are low and ferritin is good, then you have caught the anemia at a turning point. Hope this helps.